Bad news for China as India develops deadly ‘Gandiv’ missiles to shoot down China’s J-20 stealth fighter, the Astra MkIII can travel…can be launched…

New Delhi: In a major development that promises to bring a revolutionary change in the Indian Air Force‘s combat capabilities, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed the Astra MkIII air-to-air missile. The missile is designed to engage targets in air-to-air combat. According to the reports, the Astra Mk-3 missile, which has been named ‘Gandiv’, is now set to undergo developmental trials. This missile is not only a demonstration of India’s indigenous missile development capabilities to the world, but also a decisive step towards countering China’s advanced missiles like the PL-15 and PL-17.

One of the key highlights is that after the successful development of Astra Mk-3, an upgraded next variant is also planned. Once inducted into the Indian Air Force, this missile will provide India with a powerful weapon capable of taking down enemy fighter jets and surveillance aircraft from several hundred kilometers away, especially in the context of threats from China and Pakistan.

DRDO claims that this new technology will be used in both Astra Mk-2 and Mk-3, thereby giving India’s aerial defense system a robust electronic warfare-resistant framework.

Here are some of the key features of Astra Mk-3 missile?

  • The Astra Mk-3 missile has been named after “Gandiv,” the mighty bow of the great warrior Arjuna from the Mahabharata.
  • Astra Mk-3 missile is a ramjet-powered Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM)
  • The missile is specially designed to target high-value assets and stealth fighter jets, bombers, and Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft at ranges of over 300–350 kilometers.
  • Astra Mk-3 missile is equipped with DRDO’s Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology
  • This enables it to travel long distances at supersonic speeds — up to Mach 4.5.
  • One of its key advantages is its ability to use oxygen from the atmosphere as an oxidizer, eliminating the need to carry heavy oxidizing agents, making the missile lighter and more efficient.
  • Its ramjet technology also gives it a throttleable propulsion system, allowing it to dynamically adjust speed and power in real-time.
  • This makes it highly effective in rapidly changing combat scenarios and capable of hitting fast-moving, highly maneuverable targets.
  • In short, the Astra Mk-3 can strike targets up to 350 kilometers away at Mach 4.5 speed, making it an extremely lethal and formidable weapon in India’s aerial arsenal.

The production model of Astra Mk-3 is moving beyond a Gallium Arsenide (GaAs)-based AESA seeker and will now incorporate a Gallium Nitride (GaN)-based seeker, according to the reports. GaN-based seekers are capable of operating at higher temperatures and are significantly more resistant to electronic jamming (ECM).

The DRDO has specifically designed this missile to shoot down Chinese J-20 fifth-generation fighter jets mid-air. Therefore, it has been equipped with the capability to resist jamming during electronic warfare and to penetrate stealth technology-equipped jets.

Chinese PL-15 and PL-17

PL-15:

  • PL-15 is designed to fight the high-value targets like AWACS, tankers, and enemy fighters.
  • PL-15 has a range of 200-300 km (export version PL-15E has a shorter range of 145 km).
  • PL-15 can be launched from J-10C, J-20, J-16, J-11B, and JF-17 fighters.
  • Combines inertial navigation, Beidou satellite updates, two-way datalink, and an active radar seeker with AESA technology.
  • A PL-15E missile was recovered in India after being fired by Pakistan, leading to concerns about technological leaks, according to India Today.

PL-17:

  • PL-17 is designed for ultra-long-range engagements, potentially exceeding the range of the PL-15.
  • According to the reports, the missiles have a range of 400 km, making it one of the farthest-reaching AAMs.
  • Compared to other long-range AAMs, the PL-17 has larger size, measuring 6 meters (20 ft) in length.
  • Relies on inertial guidance, satellite navigation, data-link, and a terminal seeker with active radar, passive sensors, and IR-homing.
  • Seen on J-16 fighter jets.
  • Its induction stage is unclear, with some reports suggesting it is in limited production or undergoing further testing.

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