Astra BVRAAM

[SuperCommandoDhruv]

DRDO officials said it is more advanced than the similar class of missiles of the US, Russia and France. The missile's captive flight tests from Su-30MKI were carried out near Pune in November 2009 when seven sorties were conducted.
PTI

Once again, IAF has set 'unrealistic' requirements so ASTRA will never realize and they can keep importing.

 

[Bot]

DRDO officials said it is more advanced than the similar class of missiles of the US, Russia and France.

There was no need for that rant at any time from the officials.

For gods sake let the missile perform and speak for itself.

 

[SuperCommandoDhruv]

ASTRA design goals set out in 2002 by IAF, are far more advanced than even Western missiles.

IAF doesn't want ASTRA to be a success. They are happy importing.

 

[SuperCommandoDhruv]

There was no need for that rant at any time from the officials.

For gods sake let the missile perform and speak for itself.

He is right actually. ASTRA is too ambitious even though its first BVR missile India is attempting to make.

 

[nitesh]

test is a failure:

The Hindu : National : Flight-test of Astra fails

DRDO's Chief Controller (Missiles and Strategic Systems) Avinash Chander said the mission could not be completed as the missile developed a "control-related fault" when a manoeuvre was attempted. "A snag developed during a manoeuvre. The missile lost control after it reached a certain height. A team is analysing the data."

 

[lambu]

Astra successfully test fired for second day

BALASORE, ORISSA (PTI): For the second day in a row, India conducted a successful ballistic flight test of indigenously developed Astra - Beyond-Visual-Range Air-to-Air Missile - from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Saturday.

"The missile was test-fired around 1032 hrs and the trial was successful," Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) sources said.

The missile is envisaged to intercept and destroy enemy aircraft at supersonic speeds in the head-on mode at a range of 80 km and in tail-chase mode at 20 km.

"Before the sophisticated anti air-craft missile would be integrated with fighter aircraft like Su-30 MKI, MiG-29 and Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, it would undergo some rigorous and flawless tests both from ground and fighter jets," said a scientist associated with the project.

Astra, which uses solid propellant, can carry a conventional warhead of 15 kg. It is the smallest of the missiles developed by the DRDO in terms of size and weight.

It is 3.8-metre long and has a diameter of 178 mm with an overall launch weight of 160 kg. The missile could be launched from different altitudes, it can cover 110 km when launched from an altitude of 15 km, 44 km when fired from an altitude of eight km and 21 km when the altitude is sea-level.

DRDO officials said it was more advanced than the similar class of missiles of the US, Russia and France.

The missile's captive flight tests from Su-30MKI were carried out near Pune in November 2009 when seven sorties were conducted.

Astra's first flight trial took place on May 9, 2003 from the ITR at Chandipur.

Astra successfully test fired for second day - Brahmand.com

 

[nitesh]

same news reported by ToI
Astra successfully test-fired for second day - The Times of India

 

[Pintu]

India successfully test fires Astra interceptor missile again in Orissa - The Economic Times

21 May, 2011, 08.25PM IST,PTI
India successfully test fires Astra interceptor missile again in Orissa

BALASORE (ORISSA): For the second time in two days, India today successfully test fired indigenously developed air-to-air Astra interceptor missile with an 80 km range from Chandipur in Orissa.

Developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Beyond-Visual-Range Air-to-Air missile was test-fired yesterday also to study the modifications incorporated in its main frame and flight systems.

"The missile was test-fired around 1032 hrs from the Integrated Test Range and the trial was successful," Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) sources said.

The missile is envisaged to intercept and destroy enemy aircraft at supersonic speeds in the head-on mode at a range of 80 km and in tail-chase mode at 20 km.

"The missile is on developmental stage and we are yet to check all of its performance parameters before conducting the user trials. More such tests are scheduled to take place. Necessary modifications are made after every test ," DRDO officials said in Delhi.

Every time a development test-fire takes place the missile is checked against few pre-decided coordinates and parameters which helps in improving its performance. The results are further evaluated to make it perfect, the officials added.

Yesterday, the missile was test-fired at around 0950 hours, to gauge performance of its motor, propulsion system and the configurations of the vehicle and aero-dynamics performance.

"The complete evaluation of all the parameters and coordinates may take some time as few more tests are expected," said the officials.

Following a series of successful tests, the missile would be user-tested to suit the requirement of air-dominance fighter jets like Su-30 MKI, MiG-29 and Light Combat Aircraft Tejas in the inventory of Indian Air Force ( IAF )).

Based on solid propellant, Astra can carry a conventional warhead of 15 kg. It is one of the smallest missiles developed by the DRDO in terms of size and weight.

It is 3.8-metre long and has a diameter of 178 mm with an overall launch weight of 160 kg.

With its state-of-art technology, the missile's reach in air can be extended when it is fired from different altitudeS.

It can cover 110 km when launched from an altitude of 15 km, 44 km when fired from an altitude of eight km and 21 km when the altitude is at sea-level.

DRDO officials said it is more advanced than the similar class of missiles of the US , Russia and France.

The missile's captive flight tests from Su-30 MKI were carried out near Pune in November 2009 when seven sorties were conducted.

"Before the sophisticated anti air-craft missile would be integrated with fighter aircraft like Su-30 MKI, MiG-29 and Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, it would undergo some rigorous and flawless tests both from ground and fighter jets," said a scientist associated with the project.

 

[gogbot]

It can cover 110 km when launched from an altitude of 15 km, 44 km when fired from an altitude of eight km and 21 km when the altitude is at sea-level.

That's very good info.
Its hard to ever truly get the specs of the missile.

 

[Armand2REP]

That's very good info.
Its hard to ever truly get the specs of the missile.

But that is at max speeds of Mach 2.4. Its engagement envelope is pretty small at that low closing speed. It said 20km in chase for a transonic escape... stick that baby in afterburner and Astra will fall away. It is going to need a new propulsion system before it will be inducted.

 

[lambu]

astra project.

Livefist

 

[SpArK]

so one failed and one is successful...not a good sign..

 

[gogbot]

so one failed and one is successful...not a good sign..

It's hardly a concern by the look of it , they resolved whatever went wrong by the next day.

The report quotes Dr Avinash Chander, the DRDO's chief controller for missiles as saying, "A snag developed during a manoeuvre. The missile lost control after it reached a certain height. A team is analysing the data." The missile was test-fired again the next day, May 21, and is reported to have met all parameters.

 

[gogbot]

But that is at max speeds of Mach 2.4. Its engagement envelope is pretty small at that low closing speed.

Now , hold on a second , where did you pull that figure from ,
Astra travels well in excess of Mach 4.

One of the first news reports stated that fact.

It said 20km in chase for a transonic escape...

Again where did it say , "for a transonic escape"

it said it had a range of 21 km at sea level.
And range of well over 100 km at an altitude of 15km.

It never specified chase speed profile.
Both aircraft would be traveling at speed , true chase range can only be determined when you factor both those figures in as well.
The Range of the missile will undoubtedly increase if your plane can climb higher and travel faster , And India has the faster planes that can also climb higher and faster

stick that baby in afterburner and Astra will fall away.

Its not only the escape aircraft that can engage after burners , given the chase distance required , it is very likely both aircraft are already supersonic when the missile is fired.

 

[Armand2REP]

Now , hold on a second , where did you pull that figure from ,
Astra travels well in excess of Mach 4.

One of the first news reports stated that fact.

The objective of the mission was to prove high manoeuvrability and lateral acceleration at a speed of around 2.4 Mach.

The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Astra faces glitch after meeting 'basic objective'

it said it had a range of 21 km at sea level.
And range of well over 100 km at an altitude of 15km.

It never specified chase speed profile.

Check the last pages, 80km head on and 20km in chase.

Both aircraft would be traveling at speed , true chase range can only be determined when you factor both those figures in as well.
The Range of the missile will undoubtedly increase if your plane can climb higher and travel faster , And India has the faster planes that can also climb higher and faster

Its flight envelop was already laid out 80km head 20km chase which gives a good idea of its engagement envelope.

Its not only the escape aircraft that can engage after burners , given the chase distance required , it is very likely both aircraft are already supersonic when the missile is fired.

The rails can't handle the stress of supersonic launch, if you try you will get the X. You have to go subsonic to launch unless you have internal bays.

 

[Immanuel]

offcourse the rails can handle supersonic stress, the Astra has undergone captive trials with su-30mki which included trials at supersonic speeds of over mach 1.8 and aircraft manuevering upto 7g. Ideal scenario will see the mig-29upg, su-30mki, lca mk1/2, mirage climb to over 15km and light the burners at the order to shoot down and fire away as far as possible at supersonic speeds of over mach 1.4 or more. At such release speeds the Astra will quickly zoom to mach 4.5 and able to shoot down a large aircraft like a transport at over 100 km away, it will be able to shoot down a fighter style target at over 80km with out any problem.

 

[Armand2REP]

I said launch, not flight. Two different things...

 

[Vladimir79]

Actually, you are both wrong. Missiles are not launched at super sonic speeds because of the 3rd law of motion. The force of the drag on the missile cancels out the thrust it needs to get up to speed wasting much needed burn time. Not to mention the safety issue of the missile not clearing the aircraft's zone if it doesn't get up to speed in time.

 

[Oracle]

You guys need to stop acting like babies and ask the various Defense Professionals when in doubt, for they have seen it all.

 

[Armand2REP]

I meant to say drag... same difference.