Armenia and Saudi Arabia among six nations eyeing India’s battle-tested Astra missiles

Abroad consumers eye Astra after profitable deployment throughout Operation Sindoor operations
| Picture Credit score:
DRDO

An in-principle settlement between India and Indonesia for Astra beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missiles, introduced throughout Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s go to to Jakarta earlier this month, has additional boosted world curiosity within the indigenous weapon system, with no less than six nations — together with Armenia and Saudi Arabia — now exhibiting curiosity within the combat-proven functionality.

The amount of Astra missiles and the deal’s worth might be finalised throughout subsequent contract negotiations between India and Indonesia, businessline had reported when the settlement was introduced.

Sources stated Armenia is at a sophisticated stage of talks with India to amass Astra missiles, efficiently deployed by the IAF’s Su-30MKI fighter jets throughout Operation Sindoor. Engagements with Armenia and Saudi Arabia give attention to integrating the weapon system onto their plane. Armenia has initiated superior negotiations with India to combine the Astra BVR air-to-air missile system onto Su-30SM fighter jets.

present of confidence

Armenia’s negotiations present confidence in Indian defence gear. Armenia has already purchased the Akash surface-to-air missile system, Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers, Swathi weapon-locating radars, 155mm Superior Towed Artillery Gun System howitzers and ZEN anti-drone programs.

Royal Saudi Air Power operates a combined fleet of F-15S and F-15SA and Eurofighter Typhoons. Negotiations about integrating the Astra missiles on these platforms are on, sources said. Astra’s precision and lethality could be in contrast with the most effective in its class, together with the PL 15 BVR air-to-air missiles of China. The opposite benefit is that Astra is no less than 70 per cent cheaper than its world different, sources stated. The Ministry of Defence is eager to have indigenous air-to-air weapon programs with prolonged vary on the IAF platforms.

Developed by the DRDO and manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL), the Astra Mk-1 is a Mach 4.5 missile with a strike vary between 80 and 110 km. India has additionally examined the Mk-2 model, carrying a spread of 200-240 km. The Mk-3 model with a ramjet engine is at a growth stage, with a proposed prolonged vary past 300 km. Given the sturdy demand, the federal government has determined to contain the non-public sector within the manufacturing of the missiles, which till now has been the unique area of BDL.

Printed on July 19, 2026