The Astra missile is an air-to-air missile created by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It is India’s first beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM).
The Astra missile can destroy targets at different ranges and altitudes. It can engage short-range targets (up to 20 km) and long-range targets (up to 100 km).
Astra missile forms part of India’s effort to reduce dependence on foreign arms and to provide its indigenous aircraft with advanced weapons suites.
The Astra MK3 missile has been officially renamed Gandiva, the name of Arjuna’s legendary bow from the Mahabharata.
| Astra missile | |
| Range | Up to 100 km for the Astra Mk1, up to 340 km for the Astra Mk3 |
| Speed | Up to Mach 4.5 |
| Guidance | Inertial, mid-course update, and terminal active radar homing |
| Warhead | High explosive prefragmented |
| Propulsion | Solid rocket motor |
| Detonation | Radar proximity fuse |
| Launch platform | Su-30 MKI, Tejas LCA AF MK1 |
