Some browser issues on my end.
It can go upto 100 km for now. But we are keeping the range capped at 90+km and working on getting better accuracy at this range. Once that has been achieved a longer range would be desirable. Increasing range isn't a huge problem, but increasing range along with high accuracy and all the while keeping the system light and very mobile is the challenge. One step at a time, we will get there.
We are working on some new solid propellents. These new solid propellents will give out more specific thrust for same weight. This way we will be able to increase the range without any change in the design. There are some indications that this very rocket can reach 150kms with newer propellents.
everything remaining same, higher specific thrust propellent can allow a higher range or you can increase the warhead size to maintain the same range.
Exactly. As far as I can tell two new fuel types are under development. One is a boron based fuel producing very high energy to be used primarily in powering the SFDR and the other is a fuel derived out of the CL-20.
This CL-20 derivative has been under development for sometime now and AFAIK, they do have a breakthru. This new propellent will even make our tank rounds more powerful.
I believe the Arjun tank's Thermobaric round uses that fuel. There were some problems reported on impact activation of the CL-20, ARDE and HEMRL were worked together to stabilise it and make it safer. They have worked out the problem and now working on readying it for mass production.
The Boron based fuel also had stabilisation issues, these have been solved already. The SFDR in its most recent test has managed to ignite the fuel and kickstart the ramjet engine. There is one other problem left here : dwell time. Boron based fuels are inherently slow burning, the ramjet on the SFDR won't allow the fuel as much time in the combustion chamber. This might cause the engine to eject out semi-burned fuel out of the nozzle, causing a drop in speed and efficiency. DRDO is working on solving this, not sure how they will approach the problem though. Let's see.
From DRDO's website :
XRSAM-IAF :
Lab : Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL)
Technology Cluster : Missiles and Strategic Systems (MSS)
Long Range Surface to Air Missile Weapon System for the Indian Air Force. IAF has projected a requirement to induct Long Range Surface to Air Missile System to neutralise Aircrafts at Extended Ranges of 250km , Sea Skimming Anti-Ship Missiles (AShM) , AWACS at ranges of 350km, Stealth Fighters and Ballistic Missile in the terminal stage. The entire system shall be designed for transportability. IAF has accepted the configuration as shown below.
So the XR-SAM basically a Astra MK-2 with a Barak-8 ER like booster. Why the insistence on IAF ? Is the Navy version going to be different ?
Finate Element Modelling(FEM) of the Astra Mk-2 in a fluid field :
Simulation of the new pulse detonation engine for the Astra Mk-2 :
I thought the XR-SAM would be based on the SFDR not the Astra Mk-2 :
They even had drawings out of the ground based version of the SFDR with boosters. Or maybe this is the testing rig for ground based testing, who knows. It would be a shame if we never make a SAM version of the SFDR.
XRSAM-IAF :
Lab : Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL)
Technology Cluster : Missiles and Strategic Systems (MSS)
Long Range Surface to Air Missile Weapon System for the Indian Air Force. IAF has projected a requirement to induct Long Range Surface to Air Missile System to neutralise Aircrafts at Extended Ranges of 250km , Sea Skimming Anti-Ship Missiles (AShM) , AWACS at ranges of 350km, Stealth Fighters and Ballistic Missile in the terminal stage. The entire system shall be designed for transportability. IAF has accepted the configuration as shown below.
So the XR-SAM basically a Astra MK-2 with a Barak-8 ER like booster. Why the insistence on IAF ? Is the Navy version going to be different ?
Finate Element Modelling(FEM) of the Astra Mk-2 in a fluid field :
Simulation of the new pulse detonation engine for the Astra Mk-2 :
I thought the XR-SAM would be based on the SFDR not the Astra Mk-2 :
They even had drawings out of the ground based version of the SFDR with boosters. Or maybe this is the testing rig for ground based testing, who knows. It would be a shame if we never make a SAM version of the SFDR.
Both assumptions are wrong. How is it physically possible for XRSAM to be based on astra which is a 160kg missile.
Performance requirement here is on per with 48N6DM/48N6E3 for which the warhead alone is heavier than that!.
SFDR is a propulsion TD program with Russia. XRSAM was conceived before the trials of SFDR. It will take time for TD programs to evolve into something meaningful.
We expected XRSAM to morph tech developed for BMD program mainly AAD missile. or possibly Akash NG design (We do not have spec for it).
Why does the booster look too big?
bad resizing is it?
Astra Mk-1 is 160 kg, we don't know the weight of the Mk-2. But we do know the Mk-2 is going to be significantly longer ranged, that is the rationale behind the development. The Mk-1 will also increase its range with time, DRDO chief said so himself. But the Mk-1 will have a shorter range that the Mk-2. It would be reasonable to assume the Mk-2 would be heavier.
Yes. It does seem to be the case.
That thing is a bit big to engage a maneuvering fighter, don't you think ? But then the Akash is even fatter. The AAD currently has a range of 300 km. So is the booster going to add barely 60 km or range ? A little too small an improvement for a big booster it seems.
DRDO website compresses pics and takes them out of their proper aspect ratio. @hellbent posted better resized pics on D. F. I.Why does the booster look too big?
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STAR
Supersonic Target system is designed to mimic an incoming supersonic threat. This system would be used to test and evaluate the missile system's capability for a supersonic engagement scenario. STAR system employs a Liquid Ramjet engine to give a pre programmed supersonic cruise trajectory in the altitude bracket of 10m to 10km.
Supersonic Target system is designed to mimic an incoming supersonic threat. This system would be used to test and evaluate the missile system's capability for a supersonic engagement scenario. STAR system employs a Liquid Ramjet engine to give a pre programmed supersonic cruise trajectory in the altitude bracket of 10m to 10km.
Only difference is duel pulse motor. how long and heavier can it be?. Lets take example of NGARM which is already tested and has a duel pulse motor. Its on the same airframe design as Astra. Maybe a bit longer.
NGARM-Gif GIF | Gfycat
Nothing is too big to engage a fighter. Look at what we are getting from Russia.
Akash NG maybe.
I thought we were going to get a multi tube pulse detonation engine for the Astra Mk-2. PDEs are more efficient(and infinitely more complex) with increasing number to tubes. It is not confirmed if we are getting one of the multi tubes but we've had prototyping and testing of the engines done already.
True, those missiles are massive.
Possible. But given the fin configuration of the second stage I am inclined to believe its a Astra Mk-2. Time will tell I guess.
Also remember this :
We have a hot launch system for naval AD under development. The Barak-8/ER uses cold launch. This is for a new missile. Dare I say its for the XR-SAM. If so we have our own analogue to the US naval Aegis defence system coming up.
IN will want its own version. Maybe not now but they will want one soon enough.
It says launch system for a naval AD. Those two aren't AD. It could be for the Astra based SR-SAM.
@BMD
In other news, this is happening. I've posted about this before :
So Korea is getting a new ramjet based missile, which looks suspiciously similar to a Brahmos. This can't be happening without the blessings of New Delhi. They wouldn't be able to get this kind of tech support and employ the right people for it if Delhi didn't want it to happen. We can't sell them a Brahmos, because well Russia. Might as well sell them the tech. At least they will be pointing it towards China and North Korea.
In other news, this is happening. I've posted about this before :
So Korea is getting a new ramjet based missile, which looks suspiciously similar to a Brahmos. This can't be happening without the blessings of New Delhi. They wouldn't be able to get this kind of tech support and employ the right people for it if Delhi didn't want it to happen. We can't sell them a Brahmos, because well Russia. Might as well sell them the tech. At least they will be pointing it towards China and North Korea.
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