SOURCE: AFI
The February 27, 2019, air skirmish between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) over the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir exposed critical gaps in India’s air-to-air missile capabilities. The engagement, part of the tit-for-tat escalation following India’s Balakot airstrike, saw Pakistan’s F-16 fighters, armed with U.S.-supplied AIM-120C-5 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs), outrange and outmaneuver Indian jets, notably the Sukhoi Su-30 MKIs equipped with Russian R-77 missiles.
This incident, which resulted in the downing of an Indian MiG-21 and the capture of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, prompted the IAF to prioritize the induction and expansion of its indigenous Astra Mk-1 beyond-visual-range (BVR) missile to counter the PAF’s F-16 fleet and its AMRAAMs. Since 2019, the IAF has significantly beefed up its Astra Mk-1 arsenal, enhancing its air combat capabilities and reducing reliance on foreign suppliers.
On February 26, 2019, the IAF conducted airstrikes on a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist camp in Balakot, Pakistan, in response to the Pulwama attack that killed 40 Indian security personnel. The following day, Pakistan retaliated with Operation Swift Retort, deploying a strike package of 25 fighters, including F-16s, Mirage IIIs, and JF-17s, to target Indian military installations in Rajouri and Nowshera. The PAF’s F-16s, equipped with AIM-120C-5 AMRAAMs, fired four to five missiles at Indian aircraft, including Su-30 MKIs and MiG-21 Bisons, from within Pakistan-controlled airspace. T
he AMRAAMs, with a range of approximately 100 km, outranged the IAF’s R-77 missiles (80 km), forcing Indian jets into defensive maneuvers. One AMRAAM is believed to have downed the MiG-21 piloted by Varthaman, who was captured after ejecting over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The skirmish highlighted the PAF’s BVR advantage, as its F-16s could engage Indian aircraft from safer distances without crossing the LoC. Indian Su-30 MKIs, despite evading AMRAAMs through high-speed maneuvers, were unable to retaliate effectively due to the shorter range of their R-77 missiles and radar limitations. The incident underscored the urgent need for the IAF to acquire longer-range, indigenous BVR missiles to match or surpass the PAF’s capabilities.
Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Astra Mk-1 is an all-weather BVR air-to-air missile designed to engage targets at ranges up to 110 km under ideal conditions. With a length of 3.6 meters, a weight of 154 kg, and a 15 kg warhead, the missile features mid-course inertial guidance with fiber-optic gyroscopes, terminal active radar homing, and a secure data link for course corrections. Capable of speeds up to Mach 4.5 and maneuvering at 30 Gs, the Astra Mk-1 offers a no-escape zone of approximately 60 km, comparable to the AIM-120C-5. Its integration with the IAF’s Su-30 MKI fleet began in limited numbers before 2019, but the skirmish accelerated its production and deployment.
Since 2019, the IAF has significantly expanded its Astra Mk-1 inventory. By April 2025, India has approximately 400 Astra Mk-1 missiles either delivered or on order, with an additional batch of 200 authorized for production in August 2024, bringing the total to around 600 missiles. These are integrated primarily with the Su-30 MKI and are planned for the HAL Tejas, Dassault Mirage 2000, and MiG-29 fleets. The missile’s successful test on March 12, 2025, from a Tejas Mk-1 prototype, scoring a direct hit at over 100 km, marked a milestone for its induction with the Tejas Mk-1A, enhancing the IAF’s lightweight fighter capabilities.
With a range of 100–110 km, the Astra Mk-1 matches the AIM-120C-5’s effective range, enabling IAF jets to engage PAF F-16s on equal terms. Its high speed (Mach 4.5) and maneuverability ensure it can counter evasive targets, while its active radar seeker allows “fire-and-forget” capability, freeing pilots to maneuver post-launch.
Unlike the imported R-77 or I-Derby missiles, the Astra Mk-1 is fully indigenous, reducing India’s dependence on foreign suppliers and ensuring cost-effectiveness. Its production by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) supports the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, with full production cleared in 2024.
The Astra Mk-1’s integration with the Su-30 MKI, and planned integration with Tejas, Mirage 2000, and MiG-29, enhances the IAF’s operational flexibility. The Tejas, with its low radar cross-section (RCS) and composite skin, paired with the Astra Mk-1, gains a “first-shot advantage” against PAF F-16s and JF-17s.
Pakistan’s AIM-120C-5 stockpile, acquired in 2006 (500 missiles), is aging, with concerns about diminished performance after nearly two decades of storage. The PAF’s shift to Turkish Gökdo?an missiles (65–100 km range) for its older F-16 Block-15 MLU fleet, due to U.S. restrictions on resupplying AMRAAMs post-2019, may limit its BVR capabilities. The Astra Mk-1, with its modern design and ongoing production, offers the IAF a technological edge.
The IAF’s rapid expansion of the Astra Mk-1 arsenal since 2019 reflects a strategic shift toward self-reliance and technological superiority in air combat. The missile’s ability to match the AIM-120C-5, combined with its integration across multiple platforms, ensures that the IAF can engage PAF F-16s at comparable or greater ranges, neutralizing the BVR advantage Pakistan exploited in 2019. The Astra Mk-1’s affordability and indigenous production allow for sustained inventory growth, unlike Pakistan’s constrained access to AMRAAMs due to U.S. restrictions.
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