India orders Astra air-to-air missiles from BDL
India has ordered a sizeable quantity of Astra air-to-air missiles to arm its fighters. (Gordon Arthur)
India’s MoD has signed an INR29.71 billion ($382.7 million) contract with state-owned Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for an undisclosed number of indigenously developed Astra Mk.1 beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles (BVRAAM) and associated equipment.
These missiles will arm Indian Air Force (IAF) Su-30MKI and Indian Navy MiG-29K/KUB fighters.
Designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Astra BVRAAMs have a 110km strike range.
Although the MoD declined to enumerate the quantity of Astras it had ordered on 31 May under the Indigenous Designed, Developed and Manufactured category of Defence Acquisition Procedure-2020, military sources put this number at around 200.
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Air Warfare
-
DSEI 2025: BAE Systems FalconWorks and Lockheed Martin Skunk Works to collaborate on new UAV range
The uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) will start off in the electronic warfare space, according to the companies, to support existing crewed frontline platforms, with many major details still to be disclosed.
-
DSEI 2025: MGI Engineering launches new deep strike OWE TigerShark
The British-built long-range strike one-way effector (OWE) is the latest offering from the company, which demonstrated its smaller OWE SkyShark in July.
-
DSEI 2025: Ukrainian drone aimed at British Army Watchkeeper replacement programme
Skyeton Prevail Solutions, a Ukrainian and British JV, has designed its Raybird UAV to meet the needs of defence, civilian and industrial industries.
-
DSEI 2025: MBDA’s new SPEAR GLIDE munition breaks cover
The high-mass saturation weapon, positioned as a low-cost variant in the SPEAR portfolio, could be indigenously produced by any future customer, according to MBDA.