Defence Ministry signs contract for procurement of missile system for IAF
In a major boost to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, the Ministry of Defence, on May 31, 2022, 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 and Indian Navy at a cost of Rs 2,971 crore under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category.
Till now, the technology to manufacture missiles of this class indigenously was not available. 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 the Indian Air Force (IAF) catering for Beyond Visual Range 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.