- Overview: In a lethal upgrade to the IAF’s aerial combat edge, the DRDO successfully completed the final user trials of the Astra Mk3 Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM), integrating it fully with the frontline Su-30MKI fighter fleet.
- Key Points:
- SFDR Technology: Powered by Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) propulsion, allowing the missile to maintain hypersonic speeds through its terminal phase, leaving enemy aircraft zero evasion time.
- Extended Range: Boasts an unprecedented strike range of over 300 km, vastly outranging the AIM-120 AMRAAMs and PL-15s currently fielded by regional adversaries.
- First Strike Capability: Enables IAF fighters to shoot down enemy AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control Systems) and refuelers from deep within friendly airspace.
- Fleet Modernization: The weapon will soon be standardized across the Tejas Mk1A and upcoming Tejas Mk2 platforms.
Source Link: IAF Armament Updates
- Q3. What is the primary tactical advantage of a ‘Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet’ (SFDR) propulsion system in an air-to-air missile?
- A) It allows the missile to be launched while submerged underwater.
- B) It enables the missile to carry a heavier nuclear warhead.
- C) It modulates thrust during flight, ensuring the missile retains high kinetic energy during the terminal engagement phase.
- D) It relies entirely on GPS satellites for target tracking, ignoring radar signals.
