India has officially renamed its Astra Mk-III missile as Gandiva, inspired by the legendary weapon from the Mahabharata. Developed by DRDO, this beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile is designed to enhance the Indian Air Force’s aerial combat capabilities. With a range of up to 340 km, Gandiva is set to be integrated with Sukhoi Su-30MKI and LCA Tejas fighter jets. It features a dual-fuel ducted ramjet engine for superior speed and maneuverability. This advancement places India among the nations with the longest-range BVR missiles, strengthening its air defense.Key Features:
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This weapon belongs to the Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile category.
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This weapon exists to serve as an air-based system for fighter aircraft.
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Development: Still under development by DRDO.
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Deployment: Planned for integration with Sukhoi Su-30MKI and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.
Performance & Specifications:
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Range:
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340 km at 20 km altitude.
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190 km at 8 km altitude.
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Engine:
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Dual-fuel ducted ramjet engine.
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Capable of launch from sea level to 20 km altitude.
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Speed:
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Launch speed: 0.8 to 2.2 Mach.
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Target engagement speed: 2.0 to 3.6 Mach.
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Target Engagement:
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Angle of attack: Capable of engaging highly maneuverable aircraft up to 20 degrees.
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The system has a position adjustment capability which allows the engagement of targets through a 10 km altitude range above or below the launching aircraft.
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Capabilities:
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Targeting:
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Gandiva operates as a system which targets numerous aerial threats including:
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Enemy fighter jets.
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Military transport aircraft.
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Refueling planes.
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Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS).
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Global Standing:
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The integration of Gandiva positions India among the nations with the longest BVR missiles in the world.
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Strategic Importance:
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Astra Mk-III (Gandiva) has been designed specifically to change BVR warfare so Indian Air Force aircraft can hit enemy targets precisely at greater distances.
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The aerial warfare capabilities gain strength through Gandiva thus enabling better regional and global aerospace defense and offense operations.
Conclusion:
Gandiva originated from Astra Mk-III to establish a significant advancement in Indian defense technology. The compliance of Astra Mk-III (Gandiva) with Indian air defense forces will deliver unprecedented smash capability to neutralize many airborne threats from extensive distances.
