Astra Series Air to Air Missiles

[PhotonVish]

Both Astra Mk3 and Sky Sting will exceed the PL-16.

PL-16 is supposed to be using variable thrust rocket motor.

Its basic SFDR without ramjet intake, obv oxidiser still need to be carried but they dont have to have bulky air intake which increase drag and mass.

Thats why Pl-16 max range is >300km with 300km as effective against tankers, awacs.

And 340km of Astra mk3 is from 20km altitude, most fighter wo go to that point, definitely not in an active a2a where going cold requires to go down.

We don't know the range of 300+km of PL-16 at what altitude.

 

[PhotonVish]

Do anyone here know that are we working on dual seeker for astra mk2/3 ?

With stealth aircraft and also stealthy UCAV, a RF+IIR seeker will be great.

And IMO, we should restart Astra-IR program, UCAV are specially designed for air to ground, hence an Astra-IR based SAM can be useful against them.

And obviously we can use them on fighter jet too.

There is large use case, i guess it worth the extra RnD cost.

 

[MlechhKaal]

Do anyone here know that are we working on dual seeker for astra mk2/3 ?

With stealth aircraft and also stealthy UCAV, a RF+IIR seeker will be great.

And IMO, we should restart Astra-IR program, UCAV are specially designed for air to ground, hence an Astra-IR based SAM can be useful against them.

And obviously we can use them on fighter jet too.

There is large use case, i guess it worth the extra RnD cost.

What I know is that the Astra-IR and Astra-RF are being developed as 2 different projects.