LCA TEJAS MK1 & MK1A: News and Discussion

[Roland55]

This is the normal Ku-Band seeker.
This is not the Ku-Band AESA seeker.

The non-AESA is the one present in ASTRA Mk.1 and the AESA version is for Mk.2/3/etc?

 

[Dark Sorrow]

Ku-Band AESA Seeker

 

[Dark Sorrow]

The non-AESA is the one present in ASTRA Mk.1

Yes

the AESA version is for Mk.2/3/etc?

Depends on how quickly AESA seeker is validated. We would probably use proven non-AESA seeker during initial testing.
Once the AESA seeker is validated we shall incorporate it in Mk.2 and Mk.3.
Production variant of Mk.2 and Mk.3 are expected to carry AESA seeker.

 

[Roland55]

What about the IR version?, thats seems among the strangest choices, mainly since BVR missiles rarely (if any) use IR seekers.

 

[karn]

Yes

Depends on how quickly AESA seeker is validated. We would probably use proven non-AESA seeker during initial testing.
Once the AESA seeker is validated we shall incorporate it in Mk.2 and Mk.3.
Production variant of Mk.2 and Mk.3 are expected to carry AESA seeker.

Which seekers are planned for akash ng and qr Sam?

 

[Flying Dagger]

Few more points:
1> There is strong possibility of an Astra Mk1A using an Indian AESA seeker, with Mk1 becoming a cheap baseline option.
2> Production lot Astra Mk2 will be most definitely with Indian AESA seeker.
3> Astra IR is in development. This will have kinematic characteristics of Astra Mk1 and will be equivalent to Mica IR.
4> R73 will be gone for good and replaced by IIR seeker enabled short range missiles. K74M was the Russian equivalent of Python5 or Asraam, but India will not go for it.
5> Astra will possibly become a big hit in the international market, equipping primarily Russian jets. I see north africa and vietnam as top customers.

It already has Indian seeker in production now we have dropped the Russian.

Yes Astra IR is next in line but still far away

What about the IR version?, thats seems among the strangest choices, mainly since BVR missiles rarely (if any) use IR seekers.

IR version will be under <60 km

 

[Dark Sorrow]

Which seekers are planned for akash ng and qr Sam?

QRSAM uses the same seeker as Astra Mk. 1.
For Akash-NG uses Netra RF-Seeker.

 

[Dark Sorrow]

QRSAM uses the same seeker as Astra Mk. 1.

 

[Dark Sorrow]

Netra RF-Seeker

 

[Dark Sorrow]

 

[Dark Sorrow]

 

[Dark Sorrow]

 

[Dark Sorrow]

 

[Dark Sorrow]

 

[Dark Sorrow]

 

[flanker99]

What about the IR version?, thats seems among the strangest choices, mainly since BVR missiles rarely (if any) use IR seekers.

Hm future mica IR replacement i guess

 

[Dark Sorrow]

What about the IR version?, thats seems among the strangest choices, mainly since BVR missiles rarely (if any) use IR seekers.

A variant of the Astra Beyond Visual Range Air to Air (BVRAAM) missile under development with a passive imaging IR seeker might be ready for initial trials from 2022 onwards said informed sources close to idrw.org. Astra IR with a dual waveband, passive imaging IR seeker will provide terminal guidance that will be powered by a smoke-less solid propellant with higher impulse motor for improved performance at Within visual combat at the reduced range.


Astra IR minimum and maximum operating ranges likely will be 500 m to 60 km due to seeker track limitation found in IR air to air missiles world over. Astra IR will be capable of operating in lock-on before launch and lock-on after launch modes and IR seeker will allow the missile to autonomously detect, track and lock-on the targets. Astra IR can be adapted on all fighter types in IAF since it doesn’t require deep integration with the aircraft’s Mission Computers (MC).


Astra IR is an interim Medium range Air to Air missile which has been designed to supplement Astra MK1 RF (active radar homing head ) till work begins on a much shorter range Next Generation Close Combat (NGCCM) Within Visual Range (WVR) Air to Air missile to be developed by DRDO for Indian air force jets.


DRDO also has two separate long-range Air to Air missile programs known as Astra Mk2 (With Dual-Pulse propulsion) and Astra Mk3 (With Air-breathing ramjet propulsion) and NGCCM will be developed post completion of this longer-range missiles first as IAF moves to equip most of the fighter jets in its fleet with MBDA’s ASRAAM (Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile) Close combat Missiles.

Astra IR will have reduced range, trials likely in 2022 – Indian Defence Research Wing

idrw.org

 

[Covfefe]

A variant of the Astra Beyond Visual Range Air to Air (BVRAAM) missile under development with a passive imaging IR seeker might be ready for initial trials from 2022 onwards said informed sources close to idrw.org. Astra IR with a dual waveband, passive imaging IR seeker will provide terminal guidance that will be powered by a smoke-less solid propellant with higher impulse motor for improved performance at Within visual combat at the reduced range.


Astra IR minimum and maximum operating ranges likely will be 500 m to 60 km due to seeker track limitation found in IR air to air missiles world over. Astra IR will be capable of operating in lock-on before launch and lock-on after launch modes and IR seeker will allow the missile to autonomously detect, track and lock-on the targets. Astra IR can be adapted on all fighter types in IAF since it doesn’t require deep integration with the aircraft’s Mission Computers (MC).


Astra IR is an interim Medium range Air to Air missile which has been designed to supplement Astra MK1 RF (active radar homing head ) till work begins on a much shorter range Next Generation Close Combat (NGCCM) Within Visual Range (WVR) Air to Air missile to be developed by DRDO for Indian air force jets.


DRDO also has two separate long-range Air to Air missile programs known as Astra Mk2 (With Dual-Pulse propulsion) and Astra Mk3 (With Air-breathing ramjet propulsion) and NGCCM will be developed post completion of this longer-range missiles first as IAF moves to equip most of the fighter jets in its fleet with MBDA’s ASRAAM (Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile) Close combat Missiles.

Astra IR will have reduced range, trials likely in 2022 – Indian Defence Research Wing

idrw.org

Where do these medium range IR Missiles fit into the doctrine? Like for close combat you have IR Missiles,for BVR RF ones, where do these fit the bill?

 

[Dark Sorrow]

Where do these medium range IR Missiles fit into the doctrine? Like for close combat you have IR Missiles,for BVR RF ones, where do these fit the bill?

As per new development 50-60km is regarded as close combat.
With advancement in Radar and Rf-seekers we are increasingly pushing the envelope BVR combat.
Most modern radars can engage enemy (provided they have right weapons) at distance of 150 to 200 km.
With Meteor and PL-15 one can engage at 300-350 km.
Modern missile's RF-Seekers offer range of 15-20 km.
With such extreme range 50-60km is regarded as close combat.

 

[SARTHAK]

As per new development 50-60km is regarded as close combat.
With advancement in Radar and Rf-seekers we are increasingly pushing the envelope BVR combat.
Most modern radars can engage enemy (provided they have right weapons) at distance of 150 to 200 km.
With Meteor and PL-15 one can engage at 300-350 km.
Modern missile's RF-Seekers offer range of 15-20 km.
With such extreme range 50-60km is regarded as close combat.

no aircraft + missile combo CAN effectively engage a jet at even 200 km let alone 300km ,yes you can fire salvos and render them defensive but that will surely not score a kill, for a kill to be scored 100km -120km is max range at which you can score a kill,otherwise you will end up firing 4 missiles without scoring a hit (example -- paf fighters at su30mki) engagement at nez (or +20-30 km for salvos) is required for a kill