IAF and Navy to start getting more Astra Mk1 BVRAAMs in 2022

Source : RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG.

Astra Mk1 BVRAAM on Indian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30MKI (File Photo)

In 2020, MoD had placed orders for 250 indigenously designed and developed Astra missiles for the IAF’s fleet of Su-30MKIs and the Navy’s MiG-29K fighter aircraft. idrw.org has been told that the first tranche of Astra Mk1 BVRAAMs will start arriving from Bharat Electronics Limited in the first quarter of FY2022-23 as HAL already has upgraded several units of Su-30s.

Indian Air Force already has been delivered 50 pre-production Astra missiles in 2019 and had placed orders for 200 more Limited series Production Astra Mk1 missiles that are to be largely equipped on the Su-30MKI fleet. 50 Astra Missiles will go to the Navy that will be equipped on the deck-based Russian Mig-29K fighter jets for which already work has begun.

IAF’s Mig-29UPG fleet has been designed next to be operational with the Astra missile after which more orders for 400-500 Astra Missile will be ordered. idrw.org has been told that bulk orders for the 110-km range Astra Mk1 Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles might follow once 200 units are delivered by end of 2022.

Test flight by an LSP LCA-Tejas aircraft with the Astra Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) for the first time will also be carried out in 2022 but it will only become operational with the Tejas Mk1A fleet.

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