Defense Ministry signs Rs 2,971 crore contract with BDL for procurement of Astra missiles

File photo: An Indian Air Force (IAF) Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter, which took off from Air Force Station Kalaikunda, successfully test-fired the indigenous Beyond Visual Range air-to-air Astra missile off the Odisha coast.  (file photo/PIB)

File photo: An Indian Air Force (IAF) Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter, which took off from Air Force Station Kalaikunda, successfully test-fired the indigenous Beyond Visual Range air-to-air Astra missile off the Odisha coast. (file photo/PIB)

The ministry said the missiles are being procured for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Navy.

  • PTI New Delhi
  • Last Update:May 31, 2022, 23:42 IST
  • What should I follow:

The Defense Ministry on Tuesday sealed a contract worth Rs 2,971 crore with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for procurement of several batches of Astra Mk-I from Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missiles and related equipment. Gave. The ministry said the missiles are being procured for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Navy.

The Astra Mk-I BVR Mango has been indigenously designed and developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) based on the requirements issued by the Indian Air Force. The BVR capability air-to-air missile provides great stand-off range to the fighter jets of IAF.

The Astra Mk-I missile and all associated systems for its launch, ground combat and testing have been developed by DRDO in coordination with the Indian Air Force. In a boost to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Self-reliant India’, the Defense Ministry on May 31 signed a contract with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for the supply of Astra Mk-I BVR air-to-air missile. Did it AAM) and equipment under the (Indian-IDDM) category for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy at a cost of Rs 2,971 crore,” the ministry said in a statement.

It said the missile, for which successful trials have already been conducted by the IAF, is fully integrated into the Su 30 MK-I fighter aircraft and will be integrated with other fighter jets including the Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas) in a phased manner. Will go , It said the Navy will integrate the missile into the MiG-29K fighter aircraft.

“The transfer of technology from DRDO to BDL for production of Astra Mk-I missile and all associated systems has been completed and production is in progress at BDL,” the ministry said. “This project will act as a catalyst for the development of infrastructure and testing facilities at BDL. It will also create opportunities for several MSMEs in aerospace technology for a period of at least 25 years.

read all breaking news , today’s fresh news And IPL 2022 Live Updates Here.