Astra (missile)

 ( Defence Research And Development Organisation ) 

The missile was redesigned around 2006 due to control issues and performance deficiencies at high altitude. The initial design of four cruciform Wingspan long-chord wings were replaced by cropped delta wings placed near the nose. The redesigned missile had an improved propulsion system and was tested for the first time in 2008. By 2013, the missile had been redesigned again in response to multiple failures caused by adverse interactions between flight control surfaces. The control, guidance, and propulsion systems were also reconfigured. After the second redesign, the missile was lighter than the initial version by around . It was tested from the ground thrice in December 2012 and captive trials from a Sukhoi Su-30MKI were held in April 2013. The aerodynamic characterization research was conducted at the National Aerospace Laboratories' 1.2m Trisonic Wind Tunnel Facility.

• Astra Mk-1: Basic variant with a range of .
• Astra Mk-2: Extended range variant with a maximum range in excess of . It retains most of the features of Mk-1 variant with multiple upgrades including new indigenous Dual-thrust-pulse rocket motor, Proximity fuze and AESA radar seeker. Development of the type was first reported in 2020.
• Gandiva: The variant, designated as Astra Mk-3, is named after Gandiva of Arjuna from the Mahabharata. The missile, based on the Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet, exhibits a maximum range of . The missile enables combat aircraft to engage strategic targets including AEW&C, transport aircraft, Aerial refueling, strategic bombers as well as enemy fighter aircraft at long distances.
• Astra IR: A planned shorter ranged variant with an imaging Infra-red homing seeker with a range of .
• VL-SRSAM: It is the surface-to-air missile derivative of the Astra family based on Indian Navy's requirements to replace older Barak 1 short range SAM system. VL-SRSAM will equip Indian Navy ships like Kamorta-class corvette as a short range air defense system and guided by its Revathi radar.

In May 2014, it was fired for the first time in air. On 18 March 2015, it successfully performed manoeuvre of upto G-force while engaging the target.

The missile was fired in public during Iron Fist 2016 exercise from Sukhoi Su-30MKI.

Between 11 and 14 September 2017, Astra Mk-1 was tested seven times as part of user assisted trials including twice with an indigenous seeker. The missile hit its designated pilotless Target drone each time.

During user trials in 2019, it hit a target at a distance of .

Astra Mk-1 with an indigenous seeker (instead of a Russian variant supplied by AGAT) is expected to be tested for the first time in May 2022.

On 23 August 2023, Astra Mk-1 was successfully test fired from HAL Tejas aircraft off the coast of Goa from an altitude of .

On 12 March 2025, Astra Mk-1 was successfully test fired from a Tejas Mk1 prototype over the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha. The missile scored a direct hit on a flying target at a range of over 100 km. This test was significant for the subsequent induction of Tejas Mk1A aircraft. Further trials are also expected for performance evaluation. However, Tejas Mk1A failed the Astra firing trial later that month. This compelled the DRDL to undertake certain software tweaks and, as of 16 September, HAL is awaiting an approval from CEMILAC's safety review board to continue with the trials. Another trial is now expected in September or October.

On 11 July 2025, the DRDO and the IAF conducted trials of Astra missiles with an indigenous radio frequency seeker off the coast of Odisha. Two launches were undertaken from a Su-30MKI against high-speed unmanned aerial targets at varying ranges. Both the targets were reportedly destroyed.

Reports released in April 2024 suggested that the missile will be tested in first half of 2024 with an initial target range of around 130 km.

Reports in September 2024 suggested that a series of developmental and user trials of the Astra Mk 2, with a range of 140–160 km, will be conducted in 2025 which will be completed by 2026 and followed by induction in the same year. Full scale production is expected by 2027. There has been a few design modifications which led to delays.

As per the Ministry of Defence's Year End Review, Astra Mk-3 with SFDR propulsion was flight tested in 2023 which enabled the missile to intercept aerial threats over a far greater distance at supersonic speed. The missile was configured with nozzle-less booster, thrust modulation system and a sustainer engine to deliver specific impulse in ramjet mode.

By March 2025, the missile completed two in-flight tests FT-01 and FT-02 validating separation mechanisms after the previous ground tests for booster and nozzleless boosters. The missile will now undergo firing trials from the Sukhoi Su-30MKI and HAL Tejas.