Astra BVRAAM

[Immanuel]

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.

Offcourse they are launched at supersonic speeds, F-22 has launched Aim-120s many times during tests while supercriusing at high altitude.

 

[Immanuel]

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

when they can withstand supersonic flight, supersonic launch wont be a problem at all, has been done many time before.

 

[Armand2REP]

when they can withstand supersonic flight, supersonic launch wont be a problem at all, has been done many time before.

It has only been done on the F-22 which has launch bays = less drag. Already mentioned the bays... yawn

 

[Immanuel]

almost all fighter aircraft can do that including the f-16, f-22 isn't the only aircraft.

 

[Rahul Singh]

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.

HINDU reporting " The objective of the mission was to prove high manoeuvrability and lateral acceleration at a speed of around 2.4 Mach. " doesn't means ASTRA max speed is 2.4. Besides, that's a third party info. Following slide on ASTRA-1 program is from seminar at Aero India-11 and it clearly writes Speed (MACH) 4.5 and unlike one you quoted this is no third party info but from horse's mouth(Dr. S. Gollakota).

For range and envelop. Yes it is small in comparison to AIM-120C but quite comparable to MICA. And there is no need to change propulsion for greater range, DRDO is developing ASTRA-2 for that. May be instead DRDO wanna add IR seeker in ASTRA-1.

 

[nitesh]

Astra BVR test vehicle flown 3 times - Frontier India - News, Analysis, Opinion

 

[Armand2REP]

On the current propulsion it only gets Mach 2.4. That contemporary chart is way off on MICA.

 

[Rahul Singh]

^^ And the source on max speed is?

 

[nitesh]

opposite news to what has been posted till now:

Astra nosedives for second time - southindia - Orissa - ibnlive

 

[Armand2REP]

No point arguing Astra Mach speed, can't even get into the air without disintegrating.

 

[Godless-Kafir]

No point arguing Astra Mach speed, can't even get into the air without disintegrating.

What is that supposed to mean?

 

[gogbot]

On the current propulsion it only gets Mach 2.4. That contemporary chart is way off on MICA.

The Hindu News Update Service

'Astra' test-fired successfully

Balasore (Orissa) (PTI): India's indigenously developed, beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile 'Astra' was on Saturday successfully test-fired from the integrated test range (ITR) at Chandipur in Orissa.

The missile was test-fired from a launcher in the launch pad number 2 of the ITR complex at about 1205 hours. After data analysis of the flight test, another test may be conducted in the next couple of days if needed, defence sources said.

"Before being made full operational, the complex missile system would undergo some more trials, though test on its navigation, control, air frame, propulsion and other sub-system have been validated," said a source from the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) at ITR.

The single stage, solid fuelled 'Astra' missile "is more advanced in its category than the contemporary BVR missiles and it is capable of engaging and destroying highly manoeuvrable supersonic aerial targets," the source added.

Describing 'Astra' as futuristic missile, DRDO scientists said the weapon could intercept the target at supersonic speeds (mach 1.2 to 1.4).

Though the exact range of today's trial has not been disclosed, scientists are working to ensure that 'Astra' performs effectively at different altitudes - one cruising at an altitude of 15 km with 90 to 110 km range, another at an altitude up to 30,000 ft, having a range of 44 km and the third at sea level altitude with a range of 30 km.

The last two experimental flight tests of 'Astra' were conducted from the ITR launch complex at Chandipur on March 25 and 26 last year to study the ballistic performance and control of the missile at a low altitude and shorter range, the sources said.

The missile is 3.6 meters long, 7 inches in diameter and has launch weight of about 154 kg, thus it is the smallest weapon of the DRDO's guided missile development programme in terms of size and weight. It is capable of carrying 15 kg war head.

Initially planned to arm Jaguar, MIG-29 and indigenous light combat aircraft, Tejas, DRDO officials are now concentrating that after user's trial, the sleek missile would be integrated with Indian Air Force's front line fighter aircraft like Sukhoi-30 MKIs and Mirage-2000.

'Aastra' missile project is guided and led by the Hyderabad-based Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) under the DRDO.

The prototype of the missile was first tested between May 9 and 12, 2003 from the ITR at Chandipur.

 

[Immanuel]

Thats the intercept speed after the missile has coasted towards it target, its propulsion takes it to mach 4.5 and then when all fuel is burnt out, the missile coasts just like every other A2A missile today and intercepts its target at speeds between mach 1.2 to mach 1.4. Astra for one has a better range offering than the Mica.

 

[Rahul Singh]

No point arguing Astra Mach speed, can't even get into the air without disintegrating.

Disintegrating, Oh! May be you like read it through or at least upto where article writes "No DRDO official, however, responded to call for an official announcement". May be this explains further " DRDO spokesman denied that there was any failure of the tests. "We have conducted the tests and recorded the parameters. The parameters are being analysed for incorporation in future tests. It will be wrong to say that a test failed," he said.

You may have your reasons to cheer but fact remains that source is our Desi Dork Media and a pinch of salt is always handy.

 

[A chauhan]

Any update on this thread guys ?

 

[nitesh]

Any update on this thread guys ?

You asked for it

Missiles to get smarter with onboard desi chips | DRDO | | The New Indian Express

BANGALORE/.HYDREBAD: : Indian missiles are set to go lighter and smarter with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on the verge of launching a System on Chip (SOC) component, to be embedded on to the onboard computer (OBC). The SOC will give a tech advantage to the scientists to either increase the range of the missile or the warhead, depending upon the mission. The processing speed also will go up 6-7 times with SOC.

DRDO hopes to get the first block of SOCs in December and later test it the on short-range air-to-air Astra missile by mid-2012. Astra - a BVR (Beyond Visual Range) missile - will be initially integrated with Su-30 MKI and later on Tejas and MiG-29.

 

[nitesh]

So, the efforts are on to increase the range, and make the missile more efficient, MMW seeker is here, IIR seeker is tested, with this new SOC concept they can try to make dual mode seeker. Way to go.

 

[Galaxy]

I don't understand one thing, Why we are looking for acquisition for short range SAM (Maitri/MBDA) when Astra can be developed for same purpose with even better range ??

SpyDer is product of Python-5 & Derby (both A2A M)
Raytheon has developed SAM with AIM-120 AMRAAM A2A
Even Russia developed from R-77 A2A

Then why we can't develop Astra A2A as SHORADS ??

Astra BVR A2A with range 80-100 km will be operational by 2013-14, then why DRDO not developing Air/Point defence Missile with Astra ?? Not to forget we already have other equipment like radars & IPF required for SHORADS and now we are planning or indeed already planned to invest Bn$ for new SHORADS as JV from scratch ??

Is DRDO not confident enough or MoD like foreign products ?? I failed to understand the logic behind new SHORADS.

 

[venkat]

^^^ galaxy!! At what stage do you think this ASTRA programme !!!! ASTRA is still in R&D stage as per news reports.

 

[Galaxy]

^^^ galaxy!! At what stage do you think this ASTRA programme !!!! ASTRA is still in R&D stage as per news reports.

R&D is over long back. The project started almost a decade back.

Astra was first tested without control and guidance systems in 2003. Another 2 test took place in 2003 itself. Then at least 6-7 more test occurred between 2007-2011. By 2013, most likely it would be inducted and DRDO has said more than once in recent times.

I personally think, If all news related with Astra is true (I hope DRDO not hired any 10 cent army) then it's possible that By 2014-2015, It can be used as SHORADS. Actually, It's not something very difficult. If we can make Akash, then it's easy to make Astra as SAM. (We already have all Radar, IPF, Vehicle and system required for such SHORADS)

Also, we will be operating enough no. of SpyDer, Barak-8, Akash MK1,2 by 2017.

Once we finalise Maitri/MBDA then Astra will never be used as SHORADS as we will have complete Air defence system without any major Gap. [We can speed-up Akash production & order more SpyDer system - which i think we already doing it]

Then why not go with it which is comparatively easy to do ?? It will also open the gate for Long Range SAM in future beyond 2020. We might not need to buy any such system after 2017.

Even if it will take more time, then also our more number of Akash + Spyder can fulfit our need in same price & time.