Opinion: Astra Missile — IAF Lethality Gets A Homegrown Boost 

The successful Astra missile test marks a pivotal enhancement to IAF’s strike capabilities. The missile not only underscores IAF’s offensive capabilities, but also highlights its defensive strengths.

The Astra missile is equipped with sophisticated guidance and navigation systems, which significantly enhance its accuracy in targeting.

Source : Bharat Dynamics Limited

The successful flight trial of the Astra missile, which boasts a range exceeding 100 km, on March 12 marks a significant milestone for India. This achievement is particularly noteworthy given the Indian Air Force’s (IAF’s) historical reliance on imported long-range air-to-air missile systems. Since the introduction of air-to-air missiles, the landscape of aerial combat has transformed dramatically, igniting a competitive drive among nations to develop missiles with extended ranges