The Indian Air Force plans to adopt the Astra BVR missile into service with Su-30MKI fighters.

The Indian Air Force has awarded contracts to Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for the supply of Astra Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missiles and associated equipment. The total amount of contracts is 29,7 billion rupees (about 35 billion rubles). The move is aimed at reducing dependence on foreign arms supplies and strengthening national security.

The first batch of Indian-developed Astra-MK1 missiles is scheduled to enter service by the end of 2023. BDL has already received permission from the Indian authorities for mass production of the Astra-MK1 missile, which is a landmark event in the field of missile production in the country.

Astra missiles were successfully integrated for use on Su-30MKI aircraft, demonstrating their full compatibility and effectiveness during testing. Now it is planned to equip Russian-designed fighters with new missiles.

Indian Press:

The results of tests carried out in the Indian state of Goa at an altitude of more than six thousand meters fully demonstrated the high capabilities of missiles of this type.

Currently, development is underway of a more advanced model Astra-MK2, which has a longer flight range. Static fire tests have been carried out, indicating progress in the development of this version of the rocket. It is assumed that the introduction of Astra-MK2 can enhance the combat capabilities of the Indian Air Force, while strengthening India's global position. At least that's what they hope for in India itself.

Comments

[Orange Bigg]

This is essentially the Indian equivalent of the Meteor air-to-air missile.

The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) designed and built the ASTRA MK-I BVR AAM independently. It was developed in response to the Indian Air Force's requirement for personnel to conduct beyond visual range combat operations.

The Astra Mk2 is a new generation air-to-air missile that uses a dual-pulse engine to strike at ranges of up to 160 kilometers. The video that first showed the public the launch did not show the rocket firing its twin-pulse engine, which experts say suggests the video was taken during a mock-up ejection test.

https://www.eurasiantimes.com/indias-astra-mk2-bvr-missile-breaks-cover-iafs-new-promo/

What do we have? News from August 2023.

The Russian Aerospace Forces use the fifth-generation SU-57 fighter in the NMD zone, the aircraft performs combat missions, hitting targets at a distance of more than a hundred kilometers. In the near future, the fighter should receive new missiles with a much longer range. This was reported by a source in the Russian defense industry.According to the source, Russian Su-57 fighters should soon be armed with new aircraft missiles to destroy high-speed air targets at a range of up to 300 km. Testing of new ammunition will be carried out in real combat conditions in the Northern Military District zone.

https://topwar.ru/224905-istochnik-soobschil-o-postuplenii-na-vooruzhenie-istrebitelja-su-57-novyh-raket-s-dalnostju-porazhenija-do-300-km.html

After all, we have a missile similar to the K-77ME entered final testing, but at one time they decided not to put it into production and relied on the cheaper K-77M, now, according to rumors, there was even an article in VO, the Russian Aerospace Forces will soon receive an air-to-air missile air with a range of up to 300 km and this is not the R-37M, it has already been used in the Northern Military District and has been put into service for several years. So there is a high probability that the K-77ME was given the green light. It is used as a counterweight to Meteor.

But now the “product 180BD” or K-77ME, which has had a significantly increased range and also enhanced other characteristics, is at the final stage of testing. The characteristics are not disclosed, but you can get some idea about them by considering the parameters of the R-77−1, which will be improved. The maximum speed of the rocket is 4,5 M, the target to be destroyed is 3600 km/h. Target flight altitude - from 20 m to 2500 m. Warhead weight - 22 kg. Targeting is the same as that of the KS-172. The K-77ME is smaller in size than the ultra-long-range missile and is located in the missile compartment of a fighter.

https://m.vk.com/wall-50377583_984046

[Reindeer herder_2]

Quote from Orange Bigg

This is essentially the Indian equivalent of the Meteor air-to-air missile.

No.
MBDA Meteor combined ramjet sustainer

Astra Mk 1: Solid propellant rocket engine
Astra Mk 2: dual-mode multi-pulse solid propellant rocket engine (in development)
Only Astra Mk 3 will have to have Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR), like Meteor.
In 15 years, maybe they will master it

Quote from Orange Bigg

After all, we have a missile similar to the K-77ME that has entered final testing.

Quote from Orange Bigg

After all, we have a missile similar to the K-77ME that has entered final testing.

“E” doesn’t fit in the Su-57, it only has M.
Are you confusing with
K-77PD / RVV-AE-PD:
Engines: starting solid propellant rocket engine and main ramjet KRPD-TT.
In a strange way: the country leading in ramjet engines for TTs suddenly stopped work on the most advanced and necessary ramjet engine at the turn of 1999-2001

[shikin]

The target's flight altitude is not 2500 m, but 25000 m. Probably a typo?

[poquello]

promising, su30 works in its own way, one might say it’s a brand

[Thrifty]

The classic question is how “Indian” is this missile in terms of the percentage of components?