The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) have received permission from the Indian Air Force (IAF) to produce 200 Astra air-to-air missiles for their Su-3O and LCA Tejas fighter aircraft.

The permission was granted to the DRDO and the public sector company BDL during Deputy Chief Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit of the Indian Air Force's recent visit to Hyderabad.

Senior defence sources informed India Today TV that while DRDO is the project's development agency, BDL is in charge of production.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved the proposal, which called for the production of 248 missiles for the Indian Navy and Air Force in 2022–2023.

The Astra program, which intends to improve the Indian Armed Forces' aerial combat capability, includes this series of air-to-air missiles. The Mark 2 missile was preceded by the Astra Mark 1, which has already been effectively incorporated into the IAF and Navy.

Senior defence insiders told India Today TV that the Astra Mark 2 missiles are presently being worked on, and the missile's first test, which has a 130 km striking range, is expected to happen in the next months.

According to them, DRDO is concentrating on creating a unique motor to increase the missile's range.

The current Astra Mark 1 missile can go up to 100 kilometres before running out of fuel.

In order to build an indigenous air-to-air missile system, the DRDO started talking with different stakeholders in 2001. The goal was to create a missile system that could engage enemy targets that were out of visual range.

The Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) in Hyderabad was subsequently designated as the project's nodal laboratory. To further the project and conduct preliminary research, a specialised task force was established.

Image source: PIB