The Ministry of Defence, on Tuesday, has signed a contract with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for supply of ASTRA MK-I Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Air-to-Air Missile (AAM) and associated equipment for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Navy at a cost of ₹2,971 crore under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category.
Till now, the technology to manufacture missile of this class indigenously was not available but the ASTRA MK-I BVR AAM has been Indigenously designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) based on the staff Requirements issued by IAF catering for beyond visual range (BVR) as well as close combat engagement reducing the dependency on foreign sources.
Air to Air missile with ‘BVR’ capability provides large stand off ranges to own fighter aircraft which can neutralise the adversary aircraft without exposing itself to adversary air defence measures, thereby gaining and sustaining superiority of the air space. This missile is technologically and economically superior to many such imported missile systems, said an official press release.
