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Astra Series Air to Air Missiles
- Thread starter Fatalis
- Start date
Damn so Netra can indeed cue Astra!?!
It appears India is taking BVR warfare seriously. Astra series should give the iAF capabilities that it had been seeking for some time now. Tejas MK1A or other compatible FA will be able to cover all the frontal airbases in Pakistan.
Everything's fine, but honestly, during the actual war, we were just waiting for our fighter plane to get those missiles integrated. Even if the missile integration had been finished, the MOD will be still waiting to place the orders. And by the time everything gets sorted, the missile will be outdated compared to our enemy's missiles, and the cycle just continues...
The never-ending loop of user trials and purchase orders from the MOD.
This is a sad state of affairs. It poses a huge risk as well. I have commented on babudom so much that I do not wish to rake it again.
Had IAF & IA was not strict about the stringent requirement on Akash, we would have saw pak missiles raining over indian cities. So i don't care who the f*ck cry about user trials of a new platform.
I understand where you're coming from. It is an over arching statement that has been made and does not necessarily pertain to just Astra. However, do look at it from a project management perspective - what is called Delivery timeline - From conception to delivery (inclusive of user trials) to the end user. If you have a look at the holistic picture, certain aspects can be sped up w/o compromising on acceptance and reliability. Of course you can disagree and claim otherwise. Another aspect is the placement of orders by MoD. Do have a look at the amount of time spent on completing the procurement of any available weapon.
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That delay could due to the combined effect of technological bottleneck, redtapism existing the finance section. It has nothing to do with the trial.
Sure. The point that was being discussed was the overall cyclical nature of aspects of user adoption, trials, and procurement for projects. Anyhow your point is noted.
"And by the time everything gets sorted, the missile will be outdated compared to our enemy's missiles, and the cycle just continues...The never-ending loop of user trials and purchase orders from the MOD."
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Whatever the issue might be, in the context of the Asta MK1 induction and integration, the product is now outdated compared to the Pakistan PL15, and the integration with the LCA is still pending. We need to keep pace with China's progress; otherwise, you'll always be buying from outside to stay relevant against Pakistan in BVR engagements.
Out dated? PL15 didn't score any kill as on today even after firing few of these missiles on anger. I don't think that this missile is good enough to compare with Astra, atleast Astra in paper is on par with AIM 120C.
PL - 15 Design Specifications as per publically available data (compiled using Sonnet):
Physical Dimensions
- Length: 399.6 cm (13 ft 1.3 in) for PL-15E variant
- Diameter: 20.3 cm (8.0 in) for PL-15E variant
- Alternative measurements show length of 3996mm and diameter of 203mm
Weight
- Mass: 200–230 kg (441–507 lb) for standard PL-15
- PL-15E Export Version: ≤210 kg (463 lb) ,
Performance Specifications
- Maximum Range:
- PL-15 (domestic version): Up to 300 kilometers
- PL-15E (export version): 145 km maximum engagement range ,
- Some sources indicate PL-15 domestic version may reach 200 kilometers
- Speed: Exceeding Mach 5
Design Features
- Propulsion: Dual-pulse solid-propellant rocket motor
- Body Design: Conventional cylindrical missile body
- Guidance: Active radar-guided system
- Special Feature: PL-15E variant features folding tail design
Variants
- PL-15: Standard domestic Chinese version with longer range
- PL-15E: Export variant with reduced specifications and folding tail configuration
very vintage stuff, from Dr AK Sarkar lecture notes quite some time ago.
Israel had offered us 250km ranged BVR, this inflated figure is nothing but the propoganda by desi weapon lobby.
Israel had offered us 250km ranged BVR for MK1a, this inflated figure is nothing but the propoganda by desi weapon lobby.
Initially these idiots propaganda was thatbthis offer is to sabotage Astra mk3, but infavtbmk3 is years away from first flight. They they changed card by inflating MK2.
Possibly slight extended 2 pulse motor lengths, or the 3 pulse tech that is being made, or even the higher isp propellant can do the job though in this case I do not know whether the smokeless propellant can be used as these are specially made , composite propellant without ammonium percholate can give reduced smoke & give higher isp but this is used for upper stage of ballistic motors. A tactical missile probably uses lesser isp fuel combination.
Astra Mk 2 Brochure from Aero India 2025
Range : 160+ km
Speed : 3.5 Mach
Flight Time : 160 sec
Propulsion : Dual Pulse Motor
Altitude : Upto to 20 km
Mass : 188 kg
Length : 3870 mm
Diameter : 190 mm (seeker and warhead section is still 178 mm)
Warhead : 15 kg High-explosive pre-fragmented HMX/PU (same as Astra Mk 1)
Midcourse Guidence : INS with 2 way data link
Terminal Guidence : Active Radar Homing
Ground Systems : Ground System Equipment (GSE) & Ground Handling Equipment (GHE)
• Capable of Destroying Aerial Targets
• Can be launched from Rail and Ejection Launcher
Range : 160+ km
Speed : 3.5 Mach
Flight Time : 160 sec
Propulsion : Dual Pulse Motor
Altitude : Upto to 20 km
Mass : 188 kg
Length : 3870 mm
Diameter : 190 mm (seeker and warhead section is still 178 mm)
Warhead : 15 kg High-explosive pre-fragmented HMX/PU (same as Astra Mk 1)
Midcourse Guidence : INS with 2 way data link
Terminal Guidence : Active Radar Homing
Ground Systems : Ground System Equipment (GSE) & Ground Handling Equipment (GHE)
• Capable of Destroying Aerial Targets
• Can be launched from Rail and Ejection Launcher
Slight increase in the dimensions of the missile so that it can carry more fuel and fine tuning the burn rate can easily help Astra Mk2 increase its range to 200km.
Knowing DRDO's absolute supremacy when it comes to missile platforms, this ain't no rocket science for them to not achieve.
Why do you not wish to import? Why is the Indian Desi lobby run by Brown Munde interest group (as stated by Respected Analyst Shri AP Dhillon) trying to deceive us? Hydra, do not worry I got your back.
Indian missiles are most often underestimated ..
In this case, they probably letting us know the actual range.