Astra BVRAAM

[G10]

https://www.thehindu.com/news/citie...f-astra-bvr-aam-completed/article25123057.ece

 

[kstriya]

When will LCA Tejas get Astra or is it planned only for LCA Tejas mk2

 

[Flame Thrower]

Since the development completed, user trials will start, right!!!

Or the user trials also completed!!??

Coming to Tejas, I guess DRDO folks will wait till the integration of ELTA 2052 happens. All current Tejas has ELTA 2032.

 

[Enquirer]

When will LCA Tejas get Astra or is it planned only for LCA Tejas mk2

Whenever Astra (seeker) is integrated with the radar on Teas it will become available for that platform - even retro fitted on old aircraft!

It appears that they tested with indigenous seekers too, but it's not clear if Astra with indigenous seekers is the one that's cleared for production!
Russian seeker based Astra will not go on Astra, as radar-seeker integration project did not go through.

 

[Enquirer]

Since the development completed, user trials will start, right!!!

Or the user trials also completed!!??

Coming to Tejas, I guess DRDO folks will wait till the integration of ELTA 2052 happens. All current Tejas has ELTA 2032.

This was the user trial. Development trail concluded about a year back after which IAF placed an order of 50 missiles to conduct user trials.

 

[Advaidhya Tiwari]

Since the development completed, user trials will start, right!!!

Or the user trials also completed!!??

Coming to Tejas, I guess DRDO folks will wait till the integration of ELTA 2052 happens. All current Tejas has ELTA 2032.

The ITR, Chandipur is owned by DRDO and any trial in ITR can be considered as development trials. User trials will happen in other military owned sites like wheeler island, pokhran, ladakh etc. According to pib article, it is develpment trials:

Development Trials of Astra BVR-AAM Completed Successfully

A series of flight trials of Astra Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVR-AAM) was conducted by Indian Air Force during September 26 to October 03, 2018 at Integrated Test Range (ITR), Balasore as part of final development trials of the missile.

The trials were a combination of complex tests for engagement of pilotless target in different modes of manoeuvring, off-boresight, medium and long ranges. The missiles were telemetered for evaluation of online performance of all sub-systems especially the datalink, RF seeker and proximity fuse for end-game performance. Astra has been tested six times under different launch conditions and ranges as part of the final development trial. The missile has engaged targets and all the mission objectives have been met.

With IAF's active participation, DRDO has developed the missile and integrated the weapon on Su-30 and other air platforms. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Nasik has been instrumental in the modification of a number of Su-30 aircrafts for Astra weapon integration and support during trials. More than 50 private and public sector industries are involved in the development and production of different sub-systems of the missile. The missile is expected to be inducted into IAF in 2019.

Raksha Mantri Smt Nirmala Sitharaman congratulated DRDO, IAF, HAL and associated industries for successful trials.

SRR/Nampi/Rajib

There will be user trials after this. The testing of Astra in various conditions of Ladakh, Pokhran, rainy season etc have to be conducted. Though the trials for Astra may be different considering that it flies high up in the air where the effect of climate/weather may not be felt. But, in any case, this trial was developmental trial only

 

[patriots]

a lots of confusion.... last time astra already completed development trial...after that 50 LSP ordered..........
which was to be used in user trial
...

 

[Chinmoy]

a lots of confusion.... last time astra already completed development trial...after that 50 LSP ordered..........
which was to be used in user trial
...

LSPs are used to fine tune the system with user input. So these are also considered as development trial too.

Now we would see few more firing trials before bulk order placement by IAF.

 

[Enquirer]

a lots of confusion.... last time astra already completed development trial...after that 50 LSP ordered..........
which was to be used in user trial
...

There's a difference between 'development trials' and 'development phase'!
'User trials' falls under the 'development phase'. Once 'User trials' are completed satisfactorily, the 'development phase' or the 'project' per-se comes to a 'Close'!

LSPs are ordered for 'user trials' , they are also a test of the series production process.

Astra project was scheduled to be completed/closed by December 2018 - which means User trials were scheduled to be completed by then. As such, the trials being conducted right now with LSP order of Astra missiles are indeed 'User trials'!!

 

[power_monger]

There's a difference between 'development trials' and 'development phase'!
such, the trials being conducted right now with LSP order of Astra missiles are indeed 'User trials'!!

Actually this is pre production trials. They had done a series of user trials last year and had ordered a batch of 50 missiles to check the production quality. These set of trials would result in induction

 

[tharun]

Astra Motor cast with smoke less propellant

 

[Skdas]

Astra Motor cast with smoke less propellant
View attachment 31160

Shouldn't this be classified or something...?

 

[BON PLAN]

Shouldn't this be classified or something...?

It's always the same design... or nearly.
The most important thing is the material. How is it made of? smoke? no smoke? etc...

 

[happylion]

Some reports saying Astra integration to Tejas has been done !! (Not sure what exactly was meant by integration)

 

[Skdas]

Some reports saying Astra integration to Tejas has been done !! (Not sure what exactly was meant by integration)

Probably it means the platform can talk to the ordinance, passing on the target information and issue a launch command.

 

[Pandeyji]

Some reports saying Astra integration to Tejas has been done !! (Not sure what exactly was meant by integration)

The day Astra was successfully test-fired the integration was done. Basically Astra is fired from the Vympel launcher which is used on all IAF aircraft from Su30 to Tejas

 

[Armand2REP]

The day Astra was successfully test-fired the integration was done. Basically Astra is fired from the Vympel launcher which is used on all IAF aircraft from Su30 to Tejas

If it is limited to the Vympel rail that would limit Astra to Russian aircraft and make India dependent on them for it. I think it is nowhere close to done as an indigenous rail is being developed.

 

[Enquirer]

If it is limited to the Vympel rail that would limit Astra to Russian aircraft and make India dependent on them for it. I think it is nowhere close to done as an indigenous rail is being developed.

Even if a rail is developed, Mirage2K & Rafale will still remain incompatible with Astra as their radars are not mated.
As far as Jaguar is concerned, it's got Mica missiles - pretty good to last till it retires.

That actually brings up a question in my mind - Are the Mica missiles being mated with ELM2052 radar now???

 

[abingdonboy]

Even if a rail is developed, Mirage2K & Rafale will still remain incompatible with Astra as their radars are not mated.
As far as Jaguar is concerned, it's got Mica missiles - pretty good to last till it retires.

That actually brings up a question in my mind - Are the Mica missiles being mated with ELM2052 radar now???

MICA and METEOR are coming with Rafale, little need to integrate Astra on Rafale unless costs are astronomically more for French BVRAAMs.

Astra’s main utility will be on the 100s of MKIs and LCA that are/will ne in service. The R77 is a cr@ppy missile in this day and age and is plagued by issues. The Astra in full scale production will have a market for 1000+ just for these two platforms alone.

Not to mention the attractiveness of the LCA will increase the more indigenous systems are developed for it. I imagine there are plenty of nations out there that would be interested in a platform without US/European/Chinese strings attached so LCA with Astra+Kaveri+UTTAM should be the priority.

 

[Armand2REP]

MICA and METEOR are coming with Rafale, little need to integrate Astra on Rafale unless costs are astronomically more for French BVRAAMs.

if India gets into a shooting war with China the few hundred Meteor and Mica the IAF will have on hand won't be enough. It will be good to have an adaptable indigenous rail that can be mounted on Rafale when it runs out of French made ordinance.