Munitions

ASTRA BVRAAM

Also known as
  • Astra
  • Astra Mk-1
  • ASTRA Mk-I
  • Astra Mk I
  • Astra Mk-II

ASTRA BVRAAM is India's indigenous beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile family developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation and produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited. The Mk-I production weapon is documented on Su-30MKI fighters, has been test-launched from Tejas, and is tied to a 2022 Indian Air Force and Indian Navy procurement contract.

ASTRA BVRAAM, Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, Munitions
Image source: Astra fired from MK1 with AESA radar.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
India
Type
Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile
Service note
2010s-present
Designer
Defence Research and Development Organisation
Unit cost
About ₹15 crore per missile
Produced
2022-present

Specifications

Range
80-110 km
Altitude
Up to 20 km
Length
3,840 mm
Diameter
178 mm
Flight duration
100-120 seconds
Speed
Mach 4.5
Warhead
High-explosive pre-fragmented warhead
Propulsion
Solid rocket motor
Detonation
Radar proximity fuse
Guidance
Inertial guidance with mid-course updates and terminal active radar homing
Launch platform
Su-30MKI
Variants

Astra Mk-I is the production beyond-visual-range missile represented by this record; later Astra designations are tracked here only where official sources document procurement or development status.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Astra Mk-IProduction beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile

The 2022 MoD contract covers ASTRA Mk-I missiles and associated equipment for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy, with Su-30MKI integration and phased Tejas and MiG-29K integration noted by PIB.

Sources: MoD signs over Rs 2,900 crore contract with BDL for ASTRA Mk I

Astra Mk-IIFollow-on air-to-air missile

PIB's 2025 Ministry of Defence year-end review lists Astra Mk-II missiles for the Indian Air Force among Defence Acquisition Council acquisition approvals.

Sources: Ministry of Defence Year End Review 2025

Launch Platforms

ASTRA Mk-I is documented on Su-30MKI fighters, and Tejas test-launched the missile during integration work.

LauncherLauncher typeLaunch evidence
Sukhoi Su-30, Twin-engine multirole fighter aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsSukhoi Su-30Multirole fighter aircraft

BDL identifies Su-30MKI as ASTRA's launch platform, while PIB reported Astra launches from Su-30MKI during 2019 user trials and a 2025 RF-seeker flight test.

Sources: BDL Astra Product Page, Astra successfully flight tested from Su-30 MKI, Astra flight-test with indigenous RF seeker from Su-30 Mk-I

HAL Tejas, Single-engine multirole light combat aircraft family, Aircraft & UAVsHAL TejasLight combat aircraft

PIB reported that a Tejas LCA AF Mk1 prototype test-fired the homegrown ASTRA BVRAAM off the Odisha coast in March 2025.

Sources: Tejas LCA AF MK1 test-fires Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile

Planned Naval Integration

Indian procurement material also identifies a naval fighter integration path separate from documented air-launch tests.

Compatible itemItem typeCompatibility evidence
MiG-29K, Carrier-based multirole fighter aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsMiG-29KCarrier-based multirole fighter aircraft

PIB reported in 2022 that the Indian Navy would integrate ASTRA Mk-I on MiG-29K fighter aircraft; this supports planned compatibility rather than a documented missile launch.

Sources: MoD signs over Rs 2,900 crore contract with BDL for ASTRA Mk I

Timeline

ASTRA BVRAAM Key Events

  1. Final pre-induction Su-30 test

    PIB reported an Astra test firing from a Su-30 aircraft at Kalaikunda as part of the missile's final pre-induction trial campaign.

    Sources: Astra BVR air-to-air missile successfully test fired

  2. Su-30MKI user trials completed

    DRDO and the Indian Air Force completed five Astra trials from Su-30MKI aircraft between September 16 and 19, 2019, off the Odisha coast.

    Sources: Astra successfully flight tested from Su-30 MKI

  3. MoD signs Mk-I procurement contract

    India's Ministry of Defence signed a Rs 2,971 crore contract with Bharat Dynamics Limited for ASTRA Mk-I missiles and associated equipment for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.

    Sources: MoD signs over Rs 2,900 crore contract with BDL for ASTRA Mk I

  4. First production batch flagged off

    BDL flagged off the first production batch of Astra missiles for Indian Air Force supply.

    Sources: BDL Astra Missile Flag-Off Disclosure

  5. Tejas test-launch

    ADA reported a Tejas LCA AF Mk1 prototype test-launch of homegrown ASTRA BVRAAM off the Odisha coast.

    Sources: Tejas LCA AF MK1 test-fires Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile

  6. Indigenous RF-seeker flight test

    DRDO and the Indian Air Force conducted two Astra launches from a Su-30MKI against high-speed unmanned aerial targets using an indigenous radio-frequency seeker.

    Sources: Astra flight-test with indigenous RF seeker from Su-30 Mk-I

  7. Astra Mk-II acquisition approval

    PIB's Ministry of Defence year-end review listed Astra Mk-II missiles for the Indian Air Force among Defence Acquisition Council acquisition approvals.

    Sources: Ministry of Defence Year End Review 2025

Media

ASTRA BVRAAM Videos

ASTRA BVRAAM Images

ASTRA BVRAAM, Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, Munitions - view 1
Source: Astra missile launched from a ground-based launcher.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
ASTRA BVRAAM, Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, Munitions - view 2
Source: Astra BVRAAM successfully test fired from Su-30MKI off the Odisha coast on September 17, 2019.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
Related Weapon Systems
Advanced Self Protection Jammer, Electronic warfare jammer, Electronic WarfareElectronic WarfareAdvanced Self Protection JammerElectronic warfare jammerThe Advanced Self Protection Jammer is an Indian DRDO airborne electronic-warfare pod associated with the HAL Tejas self-protection fit. Official Indian releases describe it as protecting the aircraft against acquisition radars, fire-control radars, anti-aircraft artillery, and airborne multirole radars, while later procurement approvals extended related external self-protection jammer pods into Su-30MKI electronic-warfare planning.

Sources

BDL Astra Product PagePublisher: Bharat Dynamics Limited | Note: Supports Astra product background, Su-30MKI launch-platform context, and official BDL specifications. | Accessed: 2026-07-04BDL Astra Missile Flag-Off DisclosurePublisher: Bharat Dynamics Limited | Note: Supports first production-batch flag-off context and Indian Air Force supply background through BDL's stock-exchange disclosure. | Accessed: 2026-07-04BDL Astra Product BrochurePublisher: Bharat Dynamics Limited | Note: Supports Astra specifications including range, altitude, speed, warhead, propulsion, guidance, and launch-platform context. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Astra BVR air-to-air missile successfully test firedPublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports the September 2018 final pre-induction Astra test-firing from a Su-30 aircraft at Kalaikunda. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Astra successfully flight tested from Su-30 MKIPublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports the September 2019 Su-30MKI user-trial series and completion of the user-trial phase. | Accessed: 2026-07-04MoD signs over Rs 2,900 crore contract with BDL for ASTRA Mk IPublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports the 2022 ASTRA Mk-I procurement contract, DRDO-to-BDL production transfer, Su-30MKI integration, phased Tejas integration, and planned MiG-29K integration. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Tejas LCA AF MK1 test-fires Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air MissilePublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports the March 2025 Tejas test-launch of homegrown ASTRA BVRAAM. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Astra flight-test with indigenous RF seeker from Su-30 Mk-IPublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports the July 2025 Astra flight tests from Su-30MKI with an indigenous radio-frequency seeker. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Ministry of Defence Year End Review 2025Publisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports the Astra Mk-II acquisition-approval context in the Ministry of Defence 2025 year-end review. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Bharat Dynamics to supply Astra Mark-1 missiles worth Rs 2,971 crorePublisher: Business Standard | Note: Supports the reported Astra unit price of about ₹15 crore per missile and contract supply context. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Astra fired from MK1 with AESA radar.jpg - Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the missile firing image used on this page. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Astra missile launched from a ground-based launcher.jpg - Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the ground-launch image used on this page. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Astra BVRAAM successfully test fired from Su-30MKI off the Odisha coast on September 17, 2019.jpg - Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the 2019 Su-30MKI test-fire image used on this page. | Accessed: 2026-07-04