SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
Since 2019, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has undertaken significant upgrades to its Su-30MKI fleet, integrating advanced beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles (BVRAAMs) to counter the evolving capabilities of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). The incorporation of the Israeli I-Derby ER, a short- to long-range missile with a full-sphere launch envelope including the aft hemisphere, and the indigenous Astra missile has brought the IAF’s air combat capabilities closer to parity with the PAF’s BVRAAM arsenal. These enhancements, driven by lessons from the 2019 Balakot skirmish, reflect India’s strategic push to bolster its aerial dominance amid regional tensions.
The February 27, 2019, aerial skirmish following India’s Balakot airstrike exposed critical gaps in the IAF’s air-to-air combat capabilities. During the engagement, PAF F-16s, armed with AIM-120 AMRAAMs (range approximately 100-120 km), forced IAF Su-30MKIs into defensive maneuvers, as the Russian R-77 BVRAAMs (range around 80 km) carried by the Su-30MKIs lacked the reach to effectively counter the PAF jets. The IAF’s Su-30MKIs successfully evaded multiple AMRAAMs but were unable to retaliate offensively due to the range disparity, highlighting the urgent need for longer-range, more capable BVRAAMs.
The PAF’s AMRAAM advantage underscored a diminishing asymmetry in air combat capabilities, prompting the IAF to fast-track upgrades to its Su-30MKI fleet, which forms the backbone of its fighter force with over 260 aircraft in service as of 2025. The integration of the I-Derby ER and Astra missiles since 2019 has been a cornerstone of this effort, aiming to match and potentially surpass the PAF’s BVRAAM capabilities.
In 2019, the IAF announced plans to arm its Su-30MKI fleet with the Rafael I-Derby ER (Extended Range) BVRAAM, a missile designed by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. The I-Derby ER, an evolution of the earlier Derby missile already in use with the IAF’s SPYDER air defense systems, offers a range of approximately 100 km and features a dual-pulse solid rocket motor, enabling a secondary burst of energy as it nears its target for enhanced endgame performance. Its “fire-and-forget” capability, supported by an active radar seeker, allows pilots to engage targets beyond visual range with high precision.
A key advantage of the I-Derby ER is its full-sphere launch envelope, which includes the ability to engage targets in the aft hemisphere—crucial for defensive scenarios where enemy aircraft are pursuing from behind. This capability addresses a tactical limitation exposed during the 2019 skirmish, where Su-30MKIs were forced into evasive maneuvers without the ability to lock and fire on pursuing PAF jets. By 2021-2022, the IAF began phasing out the underperforming R-77 missiles, replacing them with the I-Derby ER across its Su-30MKI squadrons, significantly enhancing the fleet’s air-to-air combat potential.
Parallel to the I-Derby ER integration, the IAF has prioritized the indigenous Astra BVRAAM, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The Astra Mk-1, with a range of 110 km, underwent extensive user trials in September 2019 and was progressively integrated into the Su-30MKI fleet starting in 2020. By late 2023, the missile was operational across several frontline squadrons, with the entire Su-30MKI fleet expected to be Astra-enabled by early 2024. The Astra Mk-1 features an active radar homing seeker, ensuring precise targeting, and its range matches or exceeds that of the PAF’s AIM-120C AMRAAMs used during the 2019 skirmish.
The integration of the I-Derby ER and Astra Mk-1 has effectively closed the BVRAAM range gap exposed in 2019. The PAF’s primary BVRAAM, the AIM-120C AMRAAM, has a range of 100-120 km, while its newer PL-15 missiles, equipping JF-17 Block III jets, are estimated to reach up to 145 km in export variants. The I-Derby ER’s 100 km range and the Astra Mk-1’s 110 km range bring the IAF’s Su-30MKI fleet to near parity with the PAF’s current arsenal, with the Astra Mk-2 set to provide a decisive edge upon induction.
Moreover, the I-Derby ER’s full-sphere engagement capability gives the IAF a tactical advantage in dynamic air combat scenarios, allowing Su-30MKIs to engage threats from all directions—a feature the PAF’s AMRAAMs lack. The Astra, with its two-way communication system, is also harder to jam, enhancing its reliability against electronic countermeasures, a critical factor given the PAF’s use of electronic warfare during the 2019 skirmish.
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