In modern aerial warfare, the ability to strike first and strike decisively defines the outcome of battles. The race for air superiority is no longer about just dogfights but about engagements far beyond visual range (BVR)—where the aircraft that fires first has the highest chance of survival.

Enter Astra Mk-III, India’s latest homegrown beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM), powered by an advanced Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) system, revealed now to be called ‘GANDIVA‘, the name of Arjuna’s bow in the Mahabharata.

In a tantalising data sheet that’s found its way to social media, the Gandiva/Astra Mk-III extends the no-escape zone for enemy fighters like perhaps never before. Data suggests it will be able to strike targets up to 340 km away at high altitudes, and 190 km at 8 km altitude—a range surpassing most air-to-air missiles fielded by adversaries, including the MBDA Meteor in service on the Indian Air Force’s Rafale fighters.

This means that Indian fighter jets equipped with Gandiva/Astra Mk-III can engage enemy aircraft long before they come within striking distance, effectively neutralising threats before they pose a risk. This first-launch advantage is crucial against aircraft equipped with advanced radars, electronic warfare systems, and countermeasures.

Astra Mk-1 being fired from a Su-30 MKI

With a 20° angle of attack and ±10 km snap-up/snap-down capability, Gandiva/Astra Mk-III can even engage manoeuvering enemy aircraft at extreme altitudes, making it highly effective against high-value targets like AWACS, aerial refuelers, and fifth-generation fighters. Designed to outmatch existing adversary missiles and give the IAF an unquestionable edge in aerial engagements, it is a weapon that could rehshape India’s air combat doctrine. An image of the Gandiva on an Astra launcher has begun to do the round on Twitter, suggesting that the missile is preparing for its first flight test from the air. A precursor of the system has been tested from the ground at least twice so far. You can read about those latter tests here.

A test of the Gandiva/Astra Mk-III from a Su-30 MKI fighter platform is presumably next on the weapon’s testing agenda.

At a length of 3838 mm and a diameter of 178-200 mm, the Gandiva/Astra Mk-III is unquestionably built to deliver lethal precision at extreme ranges, demonstrating a very robust, laser-focused effort to sharpen one of India’s most promising weapon programs. Livefist has tracked the Astra’s journey for years, capturing milestones along the way.

But the Gandiva/Astra Mk-III is a very different system. Unlike conventional solid-fuel missiles, which burn out in seconds, its SFDR propulsion system provides sustained thrust, allowing longer range, higher speeds, and unparalleled manoeuverability. The missile boasts a launch speed of Mach 0.8-2.2 and can intercept targets at Mach 2.0-3.6, making it one of the fastest air-to-air missiles in the world. It can be launched from sea level to 20 km altitude, ensuring it is effective across all combat scenarios.

Astra Mk-1 debut test firing from Tejas in 2023

More impressively, it eliminates the limitations of conventional rocket-powered BVRAAMs, which lose speed as they approach their targets. With throttle control and sustained energy, Gandiva/Astra Mk-III can maintain velocity throughout its flight, making it much harder to evade—a crucial advantage in modern warfare

The future integration of Gandiva/Astra Mk-III into the IAF’s fleet will transform India’s air combat capability. Designed for use with Su-30MKI and Tejas variants, the missile’s adaptability means it can potentially be deployed on Rafale, Mirage-2000, MiG-29, and the future AMCA.

Impending flight testing and integration will mark the dawn of a new era in Indian air combat—one where the IAF obtains a major lead in the terms of engagement.

Source;Livedefence.com 

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