Astra BVRAAM

ersakthivel

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silent eagle F-15 a 4.5th gen fighter launching air to air missile from newly added external stealth pod,

such a combination can be added to tejas or any other 4.5th gen fighter with a clean config frontal RCS of below 0.3 meters,

giving them further edge over older 4th gen fighters like F-16 fighters, that have more than 1 sq meter as clean config frontal RCS.

tejas, rafale, typhoon are the 4.5th gen fighters that can use this type of external stealth pods to complement their clean config frontal RCS of below 0.3 meters,giving them the ability to remain undetected by opposing bigger 4th gen older fighters like f-16, f-15, mirage-2000 , mig-29, su-30 mki, j-10 which all have more than 1 sq meter frontal clean config RCS that can be detected before 100 Km by today's ASEA radar.

So these older fighters despite having more powerful radar wont be able to launch their longer range BVR first at these smaller clean config fighters belonging to 4.5 th gen.
 
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Eastman

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@Eastman, @jmj_overlord

There are two ways of launching a missile:

1. Unpowered release
2. Powered release.

What the Astra did is the 2nd, i.e. A powered release. In simple terms, the missile was powered up when it left its launcher.

The other missiles were released without powering up, allowing the missile to power up after a safe separation has been achieved.
Hmm.. so powered release has been tested and an unpowered release is yet to be tested.
 
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The near impossibility of escaping from
an air-to-air missile that has a "lock"
on a fighter was memorably depicted
in the Hollywood film, Behind Enemy
Lines.
"The air-launch was captured by side
and forward-looking high-speed
cameras and the separation (of missile
from aircraft) was exactly according to
the simulation," said a DRDO press
release, after the Sunday test.
Key components of the Astra missile -
such as the seeker head - remain
imported. A seeker is being developed,
but will take a decade to be usable.
The air launcher, a rail on which the
missile hangs and from which it is
launched, is a Russian Vympel
launcher that is being built in India. It
will allow the Astra to be fired from all
four of India's current generation
fighters - the Su-30MKI, MiG-29,
Mirage 2000 and the Tejas Light
Combat Aircraft.
Astra components that the DRDO has
successfully developed indigenously
include the data link between aircraft
and missile, its on-board computer,
inertial navigation system, the radio
proximity fuse and the fibre-optic
gyroscope.
The current version of the Astra will
be followed by a longer-range Astra
Mark II, which can be launched at
enemy fighters 80 km away. The Mark
II, which will have a state-of-the-art
ring-laser gyro, is expected to be flight
tested later this year
 
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Astra Project Director Dr S Venugopal
said that "the Air Launch of Astra was
perfect in all respects and is a
culmination of years of effort by a very
dedicated and competent team of the
Missile Complex, Hyderabad, CEMILAC
and the IAF.
"HAL carried out the modification in
Su-30 along with IAF specialists, and
many Indian industries have an
important and enabling role in the
production of reliable avionics,
propulsion system, materials, airframe
and software passing stringent
airworthiness requirements for the
missile."
The missiles have undergone rigorous
testing on Su-30 in the captive mode
for avionics integration and Seeker
evaluation in 2013. The project has
thus reached the final stage of testing
and evaluation, and the Mk-II variant
with higher range capability is also
planned to be tested by the end of
2014, the DRDO statementr said.
 

Kunal Biswas

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Home-grown Astra AAM

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said in a statement that the missile test had met all its mission objectives by proving successful separation from the Su-30. The test also proved the indigenously developed data link, onboard computer, inertial navigation system, and the fibre-optic gyroscope.
The DRDO began developing the Astra missile as an all-weather missile in the same class as the Denel R-Darter, Chinese LY-60/PL-11, and MBDA IRIS-T missiles. It exhibits elements of both the French-built Matra R 530D and the Russian Vympel RVV-AE/R-77 (AA-12 'Adder') designs.
The Astra is a single-stage solid-propellant missile that is 3.57 m long and 178 mm in diameter, with a 154 kg launch weight and a 15 kg conventional explosive payload. It has active radar terminal guidance, electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM), and smokeless propulsion.
The missile has been designed to be capable of engaging high-speed targets at short range (up to 20 km in tail chase mode) and long range (up to 80 km in head-on chase mode). At sea level it has a range of up to 20 km but could have a range of 44 km from an altitude of 8,000 m and 80 km if launched from an altitude of 15,000 m.
A Mk II variant of the Astra with a range of 100 km could be tested by the end of the year, he said. The DRDO previously said the Mk II would have a new dual-pulse solid rocket motor that it is claimed would more than double the missile's optimum range to 100 km.
Source : India successfully tests home-grown Astra AAM - IHS Jane's 360
 

ersakthivel

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Oman Tribune - the edge of knowledge
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nirbhay missile has sub-metre accuracy, says DRDO ex-chief
Jeta Pillai

MUSCAT Nirbhay, India's long range sub-sonic cruise missile, which is undergoing trials, will have sub-metre accuracy, according to Dr VK Saraswat, former director-general of Defence Research and Development Organisation, the developers of the missile.

This will give it the ability to hit a small target among multiple objects at a range of up to 1,000km. The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, with a range of 300km, has an accuracy of a few metres.

Saraswat, who is currently holder of Department of Atomic Energy's Homi Bhabha Chair, was presented this year's 'Dr ASG Jaykar Award' at Indian School Wadi Kabir as part of the Science India Fiesta 2014 that concluded on Saturday.

BrahMos, he said, will not be affected even if satellite navigation is jammed because it has a very good homing radar seeker which takes care of all mid-course errors.

About Astra, the active radar homing beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile reportedly undergoing trials using Sukhoi 30MKI fighters, he said: It is state-of-the-art, in terms of homing capability, probability of intercept and success rate of the mission. The best aircraft, whatever manoeuvrs it can make, Astra will outwit it."

Dhanush, a ship launched version of Prithvi missile with a range of 359km, has an accuracy of less than 10m and is mainly for static targets, including those on land, said Saraswat. The missile was test-fired successfully in November 2013.


On the suggestion that India's Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) system would disturb military balance in the region, Saraswat said: "It is like any other weapon. When the number of fighter squadrons or tanks, is increased, it will also result in military imbalance."

But, since India has a policy of no first use of N-weapons, we should have the capability to defend against a rogue N-attack. It must have the time to counter-attack and that is possible only with BMD, which can destroy an incoming missile, he added.

On the possibility of new radars detecting stealth aircraft, he said: "Already there are radars that can detect very low cross-section systems. Aircraft exhaust has infrared (IR) radiation that can be detected, therefore work is on to suppress IR radiation from aircraft. Similarly, ground radars are also becoming more potent with 'low probability of intercept' radars and hi-fidelity radars. Then there are passive radars or no transmission radars which only receive signatures from transmissions that are in the environment and then try to find out where they are coming from. With more signal processing techniques, radars will overcome the stealth."

Saraswat said the level of autonomy in electronic warfare systems on fighter aircraft continues to increase and are able to decide 'what the threat is, how to overcome it' and how to make yourself safer against it. "All future radars and radar warning receivers will have that capability and a lot of it is happening today. In many cases missile firing is also done automatically, but

India, he said, was waiting for its first thorium-based reactor to become operational which would be a breakthrough in the effort to meet its energy needs as Kerala had very large deposits of thorium.

Saraswat said the Kaveri engine, which was originally developed for the Light Combat Aircraft 'Tejas', had passed all tests and would now be used for large Unmanned Aerial Vehicles that are under development.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

Kaalapani

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Oman Tribune - the edge of knowledge
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nirbhay missile has sub-metre accuracy, says DRDO ex-chief
Jeta Pillai

MUSCAT Nirbhay, India's long range sub-sonic cruise missile, which is undergoing trials, will have sub-metre accuracy, according to Dr VK Saraswat, former director-general of Defence Research and Development Organisation, the developers of the missile.

This will give it the ability to hit a small target among multiple objects at a range of up to 1,000km. The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, with a range of 300km, has an accuracy of a few metres.

Saraswat, who is currently holder of Department of Atomic Energy's Homi Bhabha Chair, was presented this year's 'Dr ASG Jaykar Award' at Indian School Wadi Kabir as part of the Science India Fiesta 2014 that concluded on Saturday.

BrahMos, he said, will not be affected even if satellite navigation is jammed because it has a very good homing radar seeker which takes care of all mid-course errors.

About Astra, the active radar homing beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile reportedly undergoing trials using Sukhoi 30MKI fighters, he said: It is state-of-the-art, in terms of homing capability, probability of intercept and success rate of the mission. The best aircraft, whatever manoeuvrs it can make, Astra will outwit it."

Dhanush, a ship launched version of Prithvi missile with a range of 359km, has an accuracy of less than 10m and is mainly for static targets, including those on land, said Saraswat. The missile was test-fired successfully in November 2013.


On the suggestion that India's Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) system would disturb military balance in the region, Saraswat said: "It is like any other weapon. When the number of fighter squadrons or tanks, is increased, it will also result in military imbalance."

But, since India has a policy of no first use of N-weapons, we should have the capability to defend against a rogue N-attack. It must have the time to counter-attack and that is possible only with BMD, which can destroy an incoming missile, he added.

On the possibility of new radars detecting stealth aircraft, he said: "Already there are radars that can detect very low cross-section systems. Aircraft exhaust has infrared (IR) radiation that can be detected, therefore work is on to suppress IR radiation from aircraft. Similarly, ground radars are also becoming more potent with 'low probability of intercept' radars and hi-fidelity radars. Then there are passive radars or no transmission radars which only receive signatures from transmissions that are in the environment and then try to find out where they are coming from. With more signal processing techniques, radars will overcome the stealth."

Saraswat said the level of autonomy in electronic warfare systems on fighter aircraft continues to increase and are able to decide 'what the threat is, how to overcome it' and how to make yourself safer against it. "All future radars and radar warning receivers will have that capability and a lot of it is happening today. In many cases missile firing is also done automatically, but

India, he said, was waiting for its first thorium-based reactor to become operational which would be a breakthrough in the effort to meet its energy needs as Kerala had very large deposits of thorium.

Saraswat said the Kaveri engine, which was originally developed for the Light Combat Aircraft 'Tejas', had passed all tests and would now be used for large Unmanned Aerial Vehicles that are under development.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saraswat said the Kaveri engine, which was originally developed for the Light Combat Aircraft 'Tejas', had passed all tests and would now be used for large Unmanned Aerial Vehicles that are under development.

This is the best.
 

ersakthivel

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Saraswat said the Kaveri engine, which was originally developed for the Light Combat Aircraft 'Tejas', had passed all tests and would now be used for large Unmanned Aerial Vehicles that are under development.

This is the best.
These stealth UCAVs are strategically very important to the country. No one is going to give us the tech. It is a strategic feat to have our own stealth UCAV fleet with no foreign inputs. So eventhough K-9 missed Tejas , the efforts on the kaveri project is paying rich dividend at last.
 
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All-weather weapon :
The indigenously developed missile
from the DRDO is an all-weather
weapon with active Radar terminal
guidance.
Smokeless propulsion :
According to DRDO, the missile boasts
of excellent ECCM features, smokeless
propulsion and process improved
effectiveness in multi-target scenario.
Test fired from a Sukhoi Su-30MKI :
The Astra missile was test fired from a
Sukhoi Su-30MKI. The missiles have
undergone rigorous testing on Su-30
in the captive mode for avionics
integration and seeker evaluation in
2013.
 

Sea Eagle

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Astra BVRAAM gears up for second test, this time will have target

Successful launch of Astra BVRAAM From India's Frontline Fighter Aircraft Sukhoi-30 MKI seems to have fast tracked the process of further test . Sources have confirmed Second test of Astra BVRAAM has been scheduled-in next few months again from a Frontline Sukhoi-30 but this time Pilotless Target Aircraft ( PTA ) will be used as Target for the missile .
First test of Astra BVRAAM was a Separation test of the missile which proved the launch Mechanism of the Aircraft and the missile , Sources have also confirmed that Second Sukhoi-30 which has been deputed for ASTRA BVRAAM has also been Integrated with the missile to expand the test .
DRDO has planned series of Test of the missile in current and next year and is working closely with Indian air force on setting Test Parameters , DRDO plans to Introduce the missile to IAF by 2016.
Longer Astra -2 with 100km range is already in works and DRDO plans to test the missile from Ground Launcher by end of this year or early next year
In 2013-Astra missile has undergone rigorous testing on Su-30 in the captive mode for avionics integration and seeker evaluation , Su-30MKI aircraft of the IAF was modified by the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited along with IAF specialists. Astra missile boasts of excellent ECCM features, smokeless propulsion and process improved effectiveness in multi-target scenario.

Astra BVRAAM gears up for second test , this time will have target | idrw.org
 

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