Self-reliance in air launched missiles and particularly in Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) system is of strategic importance considering the new paradigm of air superiority warfare, and with the service entry of indigenous hypersonic (Mach 4 plus) Active-Radar Homing (ARH) Astra BVRAAM India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) seems to have produced a missile that is arguably capable of matching or outmatching similar class of missiles of United States, Russian and European origin. As part of induction phase trial, the missile was tested on 18 March 2015 from an Indian Air Force (IAF) Sukhoi Su- 30MKI fighter against a simulated live target to verify the control system and missile stability during flight. The prototype of the missile was first tested during on 9 May 2003 from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-sea area off the Odisha coast. On 27 March 2007, vertical launch of the missile was carried out, suggesting the development of a Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) variant. Following further tests dualmode guidance was fully proved during May 2009 followed by captive flight tests on a Sukhoi Su-30MKI were carried out near Pune in November when several sorties were conducted. The series of numerous tests initiated on 20 May, 2011, also from the ITR at Chandipur around 0950 hours focussed on evaluating the performance of the smokeless non-metallised high specific impulse propulsion system, rocket motor, and the configurations of the vehicle and aero-dynamics evaluation with the missile incorporating significant changes and incorporating advanced technologies in due course. Today it is very much evident that the ambitious programme has achieved significant milestones in the arena of technical brilliance and self-reliance. The project is guided and led by the Hyderabad-based Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL). Single stage, smokeless, solid fuelled Astra with a length of 3570 mm, body diameter of 178 mm, weighs 154 kg, is powered by high energy lithium thermal batteries making it the lightest in its class and thus enjoying wide range of applications.
The BVRAAM will be capable of destroying manoeuvring 9G enemy targets at high altitude in the head-on mode at a range of 80-km and in tail-chase mode at 20 km, thanks to its redesigned cropped delta (replacing low drag low aspect ratio) wings and capability yaw and pitch planes which means it should be able to engage a non-manoeuvring targets well in excess of 100 km and capable of operating in the altitude bracket from sea level to 20 km. The missile can to some extent function as a Close Combat Missile (CCM), as the minimum range is around 10 km. The all-important seeker was initially provided by Russian Agat (possibly more advanced than 9B-1348E integrated to R-77 variants) with an autonomous homing range of 25 km plus enabled offboresight launches up to an angle of 45 degrees and produced in India through a total transfer-of-technology process. Prior ARH homing during terminal stage Astra follows Fibre Optic Gyro (FOG) based Inertial Navigation System (INS) during midcourse with high G accelerometers along with secure data link to allow midcourse re-tasking. While autopilot and guidance software uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) for accurate guidance and optimised trajectory, the on-board Electronic Counter Counter Measures (ECCM) capability allows it to stay on course in spite of enemy Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) procedures. The 15 kg high explosive warhead is prefragmented and Radar Proximity Fuse (RPF) armed plus directional to enhance lethality and Single Shot Kill Probability (SSKP). This RPF weighs approximately 2.5 kg and has a detection range of up to 30 m, a detonation range of 15 m and a missile target velocity between 100 m/s and 1,600 m/s. Additionally DRDO is currently working on a new laser fuse. The choice of an Agat seeker was interesting as the establishment is also highly reputed for development of infra-red seekers and indicative of an Imaging Infra-Red (IIR) version of Astra. As ARH is effective in one set of conditions and IIR in another, the open choice of different seeker heads complicates the problems of the adversary. As a further step towards indigenisation and self-reliance, on 15 September 2017 Astra BVRAAM was test fired from a Sukhoi Su-30MKI at Kalaikunda Air Force Station (AFS) with an indigenous Ku-band pulse Doppler radar seeker developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI). With an antenna diameter of 140 mm and weight of 12.5 kg the lock on range is well in excess of 12 km and gimbal angles of plus/minus 55-degrees. The same indigenous seeker is also set to arm the Akash-1S Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) variant and also QRSAM. The final development trials were completed on the same month. During user trials in 2019 Astra BVRAAM decimated a manoeuvring target at a distance of 90 km. Projected to be a game changer on tactical level Astra BVRAAM are reportedly to be integrated with all frontline Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter aircraft such as the Sukhoi Su-30MKI, MiG-29UPG/MiG-29K, Mirage 2000I/ TI and the indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, and can be launched both in autonomous and buddy mode operation. Reportedly, the Mk2 version of Astra, to commence tests shortly, will have a maximum launch range in excess of 150 km and tail chase range of up to 35 km propelled by a dual-pulse rocket motor similar to United States Raytheon AIM-120D AMRAAM. DRDO is also looking at rocket/ramjet propulsion to provide greater range and enhanced kinematics performance to the BVRAAM. However adopting a rocket/ ramjet approach has certain limitations as the need for controlled airflow to the ramjet ducts means that the “skid-to-turn” manoeuvring of a conventional rocketpowered missile is not acceptable (because it will risk masking an intake) yet “bankto- turn” manoeuvring results in a reduced instantaneous turn rate. The ambitious Astra Mk3, developed in collaboration with Russia, is projected to be a Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) powered missile with a range in excess of 350 km. To be designed to fulfil the BVRAAM role for “outer-air battles”, Sukhoi Su-30MKI equipped with Astra Mk3 will be able to engage ultra-highvalue airborne platforms like Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C), In-Flight Refuelling (IFR), Long Range Maritime Patrol (LRMP) and Joint- Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (J-STAR) platforms, without necessarily having first to deal with their fighter escorts, thus emerging as a formidable aerial sniper. Under such circumstances, the primary concern of the IAF and the Astra development team will be of positive identification of enemy targets at those extended ranges since Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) remains a problem because of incorrect and absent returns and “spoofing”. Hopefully in the long term, development of electro-optical seeker technology coupled with on-board threat database will let the missiles themselves determine the legitimacy of the targets. Astra Mk3 has undergone a series of tests and is projected to arm the air forces and navies of both India and Russia plus with significant export potential to trusted allies. Finally undergoing initial tests, VLSRSAM is the vertically launched SAM variant with jet vane based Thrust Vector Control (TVC) offering exceptional manoeuvrability at close range and low altitudes and meant for land based and naval applications.
Sayan Majumdar