IAF gives green signal to BDL to produce 200 Astra Mk-1 Missile

The Indian Air Force has given its green signal for the production of 200 Astra mark-1 (Mk-1) missiles for its Su-30 MKI and the indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft Tejas. The clearance was given after the visit of the Indian Air Force Deputy Chief Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit to the Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) in Hyderabad, Telangana recently.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) developed the Astra Mk-1, which is being manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited, a public-sector company.

About the Astra weapon system 

The Astra is an air-to-air beyond visual range (BVR) missile that can be fired from the Indian Air Force's Sukhoi 30MKI, the LCA Tejas fighter aircraft, and the Indian Navy‘s Mig-29K fighter plane.

The Astra Mk-1 has a range of 80-110 km with a maximum speed of 4.5 Mach. One Mach is equal to the speed of the sound.

The missile is capable of destroying aerial targets like fighter aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, drones, etc.

The DRDO is also developing the Astra Mk-2 air-to-air BVR missile. Unlike the Mk-1 version, this missile uses a dual pulse rocket motor, which increases its strike range to 130-160 km.

About Bharat Dynamics Limited 

The public sector company Bharat Dynamics Limited was set up on 16 July 1970 under the Union Ministry of Defence.

It was set up to manufacture the guided missile system and allied equipment in the country. It is one of the few companies in the world having state-of-the-art facilities for the manufacture and supply of Guided Missiles, Underwater Weapons, Air- borne products and allied defence equipment for the Indian Armed Forces. 

The company has four manufacturing units at Hyderabad, Bhanur and Ibrahimpatnam in Telangana and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

Chairman Cum Managing Director (CMD): Retd. Commodore A Madhavrao 

Headquarters: Hyderabad, Telangana