<\/p>\n
In a boost to indigenous missile manufacturing capabilities, the Indian Air Force has given clearance to public sector firm Bharat Dynamics Limited for the production of 200 Astra Mark 1 air-to-air missiles.<\/p>\n
The Astra Mark1 missiles have been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation with BDL as its production agency.<\/p>\n
The production clearance to the BDL was given during a visit by the Indian Air Force Deputy Chief Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit to Hyderabad recently, Indian Air Force officials said.<\/p>\n
“The IAF Deputy Chief had visited the DRDO’s Defence Research and Development Laboratory which is the development agency for the Astra missiles,” they said.<\/p>\n
“The approval for the over Rs 2,900 crore project was granted in 2022-23 by the Defence Acquisition Council and the production clearance has been given for that order now after completion of all tests and developments,” defence sources said.<\/p>\n
The Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) is the nodal lab for this project.<\/p>\n
The Astra missiles will be integrated on both the Russian-origin Su-30 as well as the indigenous LCA Tejas fighter aircraft after production.<\/p>\n
The Indian Air Force is helping a lot of indigenous projects for missiles and three to four such programmes are nearing completion including air-to-ground missiles.<\/p>\n
The Astra programme is being progressed gradually by the DRDO and IAF and they are now looking at testing the Mark 2 of the weapon system at around 130 Kms.<\/p>\n
The plans are also afoot to test and develop a long-range Astra with a strike capability of 300 Kms.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n