Why in NEWS
The DRDO and Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully test-fired the indigenously developed Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) ‘Astra’ equipped with an Indian Radio Frequency (RF) Seeker from a Su-30MKI aircraft over Odisha coast.
Key Terms / Concepts
| Term | Explanation |
|---|---|
| BVRAAM | Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile – designed to engage targets beyond the pilot’s visual range. |
| RF Seeker | Radio Frequency seeker guides the missile during the terminal phase using radar signals. |
| Astra Missile | India’s first indigenous BVRAAM with fire-and-forget capability. |
| Su-30MKI | Multirole fighter aircraft developed by Russia’s Sukhoi and built under license by HAL. |
| MGS (Mounted Gun System) | A mobile artillery platform with a large-calibre gun mounted on a vehicle. |
What the NEWS says
- India has successfully tested the Astra missile, which can hit enemy aircraft even if they are over 100 km away.
- It uses Indian-built radar technology (RF Seeker) to lock onto targets.
- The missile was fired from a Su-30MKI fighter jet.
- DRDO also unveiled a new Mounted Gun System (MGS), a 155mm artillery gun mounted on a vehicle, which can be ready to fire within 80 seconds.
Key Features
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Range | >100 km |
| Altitude | Up to 20 km |
| Guidance | Inertial navigation, mid-course updates, active radar homing |
| Propulsion | Smokeless solid-fuel engine |
| Capabilities | Fire-and-forget, buddy launch mode |
| RF Seeker | Developed by DRDO, enhances terminal accuracy |
| Mounted Gun System | 155mm/52 calibre, fully indigenous, quick deployment (80s) |
| Launch Platform | Su-30MKI aircraft (multirole fighter, HAL built) |
In a nutshell
Mnemonic: ASTRA-FIRE
Airborne
Seeker-equipped
Targets at range
Real-time guidance
Active radar homing
FIRE-and-forget missile system for IAF supremacy
Prelims Practice Questions
- Which of the following correctly describes the Astra missile?
A) Surface-to-Air Missile with GPS guidance
B) Air-to-Air Missile with Beyond Visual Range capability and indigenous RF seeker
C) Anti-tank guided missile with thermal imaging
D) Naval torpedo for undersea warfare - Buddy launch mode in air-to-air missile context refers to:
A) One aircraft launching and another guiding the missile
B) Two missiles launched at the same target simultaneously
C) Simultaneous launch of missiles from two ships
D) Missile guidance from satellite - What is the role of an RF seeker in a missile system?
A) Optical tracking of the target
B) Laser range-finding
C) Terminal phase radar-based homing
D) GPS signal reception for launch
Prelims Answers and Explanations
| Qn | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | Astra is a BVRAAM with DRDO-developed RF seeker, not GPS-guided or for anti-tank/naval use. |
| 2 | A | Buddy launch means one aircraft fires, another guides using radar link. |
| 3 | C | RF seekers help in terminal radar-based guidance to lock and hit target. |
