India Missiles and Guided Munitions

[adenl]

Looks indeed much better and will perform better than the bulky SA-6 lookalike.

 

[Gautam]

Integrated AESA seeker firmly puts this into a new-generation of AAMs.

The older Akash can be exported to friendly countries to keep the production line going, while the NG version takes its place domestically.

Akash-NG as of now probably uses either the Ka or Ku-band Pulsed Doppler Radar (PDR) seeker. Ku-band seeker most likely. AESA seekers looks unlikely for Akash-NG.

Speaking of AESA seekers :

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1354270432439005187

 

[adenl]

Akash-NG as of now probably uses either the Ka or Ku-band Pulsed Doppler Radar (PDR) seeker. Ku-band seeker most likely. AESA seekers looks unlikely for Akash-NG.
View attachment 13046
View attachment 13045

Speaking of AESA seekers :

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1354270432439005187

Interesting developments. Ka-band has better resolution and is highly suited for hit-to-kill missiles. With AESA seekers in Ka-band, one has an almost un-jammable and highly accurate missile.

Issue 90 defenceturkey magazine:

View attachment 9046

Siper will have a Ka-band seeker that will be same with Aster-30 Block1NT seeker. MBDA has upgraded the Aster-block-30 missle (Ku band) with new Ka band seeker head. Ka band has many strategic advantages compared to Ku band seekers in terms of detection range and sight angle. @Nutuk

 

[Raptor]

Interesting developments. Ka-band has better resolution and is highly suited for hit-to-kill missiles. With AESA seekers in Ka-band, one has an almost un-jammable and highly accurate missile

I think it works best for the missles it suits.
For BVR imo Ka-Band is good and for BMD Ku-band

 

[Zapper]

 

[Paro]

Air Defense: India Stumbles To Success

In late 2020 India conducted successful acceptance tests of MRSAM (Medium Range Surface-To-Air Missile) land-based air defense system This weapon is based on the Israeli Barak 8 SAM (surface-to-air missile) system MRSAM uses a mobile multimode radar si

www.strategypage.com

 

[Nilgiri]

Air Defense: India Stumbles To Success

In late 2020 India conducted successful acceptance tests of MRSAM (Medium Range Surface-To-Air Missile) land-based air defense system This weapon is based on the Israeli Barak 8 SAM (surface-to-air missile) system MRSAM uses a mobile multimode radar si

www.strategypage.com

Interesting little story here @500

 

[Paro]

Developing Any Kind Of Missile Is Not Much Of An Issue For DRDO Anymore: Satheesh Reddy | Delhi Defence Review

delhidefencereview.com

 

[Isa Khan]

https://www.facebook.com/DPIDRDO/posts/1672404352939290

 

[Gary]

https://www.facebook.com/DPIDRDO/posts/1672405786272480

I often misread LRSAM for LRASM.

 

[Blank1]

Well! no Indian fella posted this in here, So here we go. Any update on K4 & K15 missile would be nice.

 

[Paro]

Well! no Indian fella posted this in here, So here we go. Any update on K4 & K15 missile would be nice.

View attachment 14202 View attachment 14203

Brahmos range extended to 400 on the existing missiles and 800 on the new ones. Agni 1 out of commission, Agni 3 majority of the current inventory, Agni 5 put into commission recently a year ago maybe still filling numbers. K15 currently equipped and in service, K4 maybe ( no one knows really, Secret tests have taken place but never reported). K5 or K6 ( maybe both are the same no clue) is being worked upon for the new extended SSBNs S5 onwards, the range could be 8K according to rumors.

 

[crixus]

Tonbo bags multi-million-dollar deal for indigenising Indian missiles​

Unless you are one of the biggest contractors in this space, defence is a tough business to crack. But Tonbo Imaging, a night-vision startup backed by top investors such as Artiman and Qualcomm Ventures, is clinching defence deals despite all odds. The Bengaluru-based firm has won a large deal with Bharat Dynamics Ltd to indigenise new missile seekers for the multi-million dollar anti-tank guided missile programme that BDL is building for the Indian Army. For Tonbo, it is an opportunity to tap over $500 million in the next few years.“We signed up with BDL to supply the EO-IR (electro-optical-infrared) seeker and command launcher unit (CLU) that controls and launches the missile and engages with the target before launch,” said Ankit Kumar, co-founder at Tonbo Imaging. “We along with BDL are integrating the CLU and seeker with their missile and BDL will supply the end system to the Army.”As this is a make-II programme in which players willing to invest upfront and indigenously design and develop the missile, are only qualified to participate. Tonbo has to show 60 per cent Indian content and prove the design is indigenous. So any foreign solution also has to first prove the indigenisation and acquire all design and IPR (intellectual property rights) within India. BDL is the prime front runner qualifying all the requirements and has necessary capabilities to check all the tick marks in the EOI (expression of interest).What differentiates Tonbo is that before the launch of the missile, the target is acquired by the CLU. The target picture is handed over to the missile seeker and once fired the missile with Tonbo's eyes and brain (seeker) homes onto the target with cm level precision. This is called fire and forget missile launch. Unlike older generation missile systems which are wire-guided and missile-control is with the gunner even after its fired and the missile is manually manoeuvred towards the target. In fire and forget, once the missile is fired the gunner has no control over it and its seeker manoeuvres it towards the target.ALSO READ: PM Narendra Modi hands over 'Made-In-India' Arjun battle tank to Army“We are the eyes and the brain of the missile,” said Kumar. “Our thermal and visual imaging sensors allow the missile to locate and identify the target and our advanced AI-based algorithms track the target, even if it's on the move.”

Tonbo Imaging: Promahon Command Launcher UnitThese AI algorithms run real-time on the video processor on board the missile and enables the missile to be launched in the fire-and-forget mode. The missile is guided by Tonbo's EO-IR seeker, throughout its flight path. The video processor is a very advanced processing platform with a dedicated AI engine and capability to do the real-time number crunching to always keep the target locked on to the target.Tonbo was founded by Arvind Lakshmikumar, an alumnus of BITS Pilani and Carnegie Mellon University, along with Ankit Kumar, Sudeep George and Cecilia D'Souza.
It has been actively supplying its products and solutions to customers in India and Internationally. The firm’s sales pipeline is over $2.5 billion with a near term execution visibility of $300 million. The company has raised a total funding of over $30 million from venture capital investors including Edelweiss and Walden Riverwood Ventures. It is in discussions with a few global investors for more funding for its expansion plans.Tonbo has done thermal imaging-based upgrades for CRV (cavalry reconnaissance vehicles) in Jordan, advanced electro-optical targeting system for Philippines army. It has also provided thermal sights to Italian firearms manufacturer Beretta and panoramic night vision binoculars for special forces in Israel and night vision binoculars for special forces in France. Besides these international programmes, Tonbo is also supplying its thermal imaging scopes to the Indian special forces.In 2019, China and India were, respectively, the second-and third-largest military spenders in the world. China’s military expenditure reached $261 billion in 2019, a 5.1 per cent increase compared with 2018, while India’s grew by 6.8 per cent to $71.1 billion, according to SIPRI. “India’s tensions and rivalry with both Pakistan and China are among the major drivers for its increased military spending,” says Siemon T. Wezeman, SIPRI senior researcher.Total global military expenditure rose to $1917 billion in 2019, according to SIPRI. The total for 2019 represents an increase of 3.6 per cent from 2018 and the largest annual growth in spending since 2010. The five largest spenders in 2019, which accounted for 62 per cent of expenditure, were the United States, China, India, Russia and Saudi Arabia.Tonbo is eyeing the autonomous surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting market. It builds the eyes and brain for systems to enable autonomy. This market is worth over $50 billion. Over 60 per cent of Tonbo’s revenue comes from its international customers in defence, intelligent transportation and industrial applications. “We are expanding on our non-military markets,” said Kumar of Tonbo. “Specifically, we are seeing traction in autonomous logistics, industrial robotics and autonomous construction systems.”

$500 mn, the opportunity for Tonbo to indigenize new missile seekers for India’s missile programme.
60%, the total Indian content that Tonbo has to include and prove the design is indigenous.

$2.5 bn, the firm’s sales pipeline with a near term execution visibility of $300 mn.
$50 bn, the autonomous surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting market, that Tonbo is eyeing.
$71.1 bn, India’s military expenditure in 2019, which grew by 6.8%.
$261 bn, China’s military expenditure in 2019, which grew by 5.1%.

Tonbo bags multi-million-dollar deal for indigenising Indian missiles

Night-vision startup, which is backed by investors such as Artiman and Qualcomm, has an overall sales pipeline of over $2.5 bn with a near-term execution visibility of $300 mn

www.business-standard.com

 

[crixus]

​

Description​

Trap1 is a dual / tri band EO / IR multi-sensor stabilised seeker for fire and forget next Gen weapon systems including ATGM / MPATGM. Integrated with a cooled / uncooled thermal imager, a day imager on a two-axis gimbal assembly housed in an optical dome, it allows the missile / drone to maintain lock on a stationary / moving target using advanced video tracking and processing techniques.
AI Enables the seeker with a brain of its own, trained on a very large dataset of IR signatures of multitude of targets.
Equipped to track and home onto predefined targets it allows the missile to be launched in a fire and forget mode, it can also interact wirelessly with the CLU to allow manual control, if required, of the missile till it hits the target.
Its capable of accepting the target picture from a command launch unit, gunner’s sight or just a preloaded target image to engage before its launch.
Designed with SWaP constraints makes it applicable for ATGMs, Glide Bombs and also Kamikaze Drones.
Capabilities

• True Fire and Forget
• Stabilised Gimbal
• Dual Band / Tri Band Seeker
• Realtime Video Enhancements
• Real time Sensor Fusion
• GPS Denied Navigation
• AI Enabled Auto Target Recognition and Tracking
• On Screen Graphics Engine
• Auto Alignment with Launching electro optics

Applications

• Anti Tank Guided Missiles(ATGM / MPATGM)
• Glide Bomb
• Kamikaze Drones

Trap1 - Tonbo Imaging

Trap1 is a dual / tri band EO / IR multi-sensor stabilised seeker for fire and forget next Gen weapon systems including ATGM / MPATGM. Integrated with a cooled / uncooled thermal imager, a day imager on a two-axis gimbal assembly housed in an optical dome, it allows the missile / drone to...

tonboimaging.com

 

[Zapper]

Brahmos range extended to 400 on the existing missiles and 800 on the new ones. Agni 1 out of commission, Agni 3 majority of the current inventory, Agni 5 put into commission recently a year ago maybe still filling numbers. K15 currently equipped and in service, K4 maybe ( no one knows really, Secret tests have taken place but never reported). K5 or K6 ( maybe both are the same no clue) is being worked upon for the new extended SSBNs S5 onwards, the range could be 8K according to rumors.

K15 and K4 have both been inducted into INS Arihant but no official confirmation of the K4 came out. K5 is being tested using underwater platforms while no info on the K6 yet. Utmost secrecy is being maintained for the K-series missiles since they complete our nuclear triad

 

[Zapper]

 

[Zapper]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1361330931756195840

 

[Nilgiri]

India working on next ‘Astra’ missile with 160 km range as Mk1 is integrated in IAF & Navy

The DRDO expects to complete the extension of range by May 2022. Astra is an indigenous beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile.

theprint.in

New Delhi: India is working on an extended range of the indigenous beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile ‘Astra’ (Sanskrit/Hindi for a launched weapon), which will enable it to strike enemy targets 160 km away, without getting out of its own airspace, ThePrint has learnt.

The development comes even as work is on to integrate the current 110 km version of the Astra Mk 1 on board the Indian Air Force’s MiG-29 and Light Combat Aircraft ‘Tejas’ Mk 1, and the Indian Navy’s MiG-29K aircraft. The Astra Mark 1 is already integrated with the IAF’s Su-30 MKI fighters, and the production process — by state-owned Bharat Dynamics Limited — has begun.

Once the overall integration plans are completed, the Astra will be the standard long-range air-to-air missile across India’s entire fighter fleet, except the French-origin Rafale and Mirage.

In July this year, the defence ministry formally sanctioned the purchase of 248 Astra missiles, including 48 for the Navy, after a successful September 2019 trial in which it hit a target 90 km away.

Sources said Astra has export potential too, and will be considered for sale to friendly countries.

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Also read: India now working on 1,500-km range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile

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Mk 2 by May 2022​

As of now, with a range of over 110 km and a maximum speed of Mach 4.5 (over 5,500 kmph), the Astra Mk 1 is seen as a game-changer, which can bring back India’s air-to-air combat superiority over Pakistan.

While India now also has European developer MBDA’s Meteor missiles with the Rafale’s induction, they are much more costly (Rs 25 crore each) compared to the Astra (Rs 7-8 crore).

For the second version of the Astra missile, called Mark 2, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is working on dual-pulse rocket motor to extend the range up to 160 km by May 2022, sources in the defence and security establishment told ThePrint.

Work is also going on to replace the Russian radio frequency (RF) seekers’ on the missile with indigenous ones, a source said.

“Three air launch and captive flight tests have been completed with indigenous RF seekers. The indigenous seeker will be proven by June 2021. Subsequently, Astra Mk-1 & Mk-2 missile will be using the indigenous seeker in production,” the source said.

At present, all subsystems, except the RF seeker and the inertial measurement unit (IMU), are indigenous. The seekers are being indigenised by Bharat Electronics Limited, Bengaluru, and will be inducted by June 2021, sources said, adding that efforts are on for the development of the indigenous IMUs too.

Project Astra was initiated in 2001​

In 2001, the DRDO had initiated discussions with various stakeholders on the design and development of an indigenous air-to-air missile system, which could take on adversary targets beyond the visual range, thus providing a strategic advantage.

Subsequently, Hyderabad’s Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) was identified as the nodal lab, and a task force was formed to undertake preliminary studies.

Sources said although financial sanctions were not available then, activities were initiated with the internal funds of the DRDO.

“The major challenges were the development of RF Seeker, miniaturised and robust missile hardware, and integration on IAF frontline aircraft without the support of the foreign Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM),” a source said, adding that DRDO’s management wanted DRDL to demonstrate the basic capability even before the project sanction.

Simultaneously, the IAF was requested to generate the programme standard and quality requirement (PSQR).

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Also read: India tests RUDRAM — here’s why first indigenous anti-radiation missile is important

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Testing phase​

The initial effort was to prove the Astra’s performance in ballistic launch from the ground launcher. A source explained that this was done to demonstrate its safe release from the ground, before testing it on manned aircraft.

In May 2003, three ballistic missile tests were conducted from the Integrated Test Range, Balasore, using the ground launcher.

The propulsion system was proven and the safe release from ground was demonstrated. Subsequently, the PSQR was released, and the project named Astra was sanctioned on 1 April 2004 for a duration of 101 months.

During this period, Astra was to be developed and integrated on the Su-30 MKI with the feasibility for integration on MiG-29, Mirage 2000 and LCA platforms as well.

“One of the specifications in the PSQR was the requirement of a smokeless propellant system. However, the propulsion system used in the 2003 ground flight trials was with a certain level of smoke. This called for a re-development of a new smokeless propellant for Astra,” a source said.

The team then started working on the system, even as in parallel, a team was formed within DRDO laboratories for the development of the avionics system, meeting Astra’s space constraints.

In 2007, the control and guidance flight trials were initiated. In the first trial, it was found that the missile was experiencing wing-induced oscillations, which had serious implications for the performance.

“One of the most critical technologies required for Astra was the RF seeker technology which was not available in the country then. Therefore, a decision was taken to develop the seeker to meet Astra specifications through AGAT, Russia, an established seeker manufacturer,” the last source cited above said.

In 2011, the final missile configuration was frozen and hardware developed to conduct the guided trials, which were conducted successfully in December 2012.

Meanwhile, SDI Bangalore was identified to modify the software of Su-30 MKI aircraft — mission computer, radar computer and display computer — to integrate the Astra missile.

A launcher was designed and developed to integrate Astra missiles on aircraft. The design of the launcher was such that it should let the missile be integrated on any aircraft with minimum changes, sources said.

In May 2014, Astra was air-launched for the first time with all systems performing meeting mission requirements.

“In order to prove in various scenarios and envelope of the aircraft, 35 air launches and 150 captive flight sorties were conducted to meet the requirements of the IAF. With the successful launches in September 2019, the Astra weapon was finally accepted by the users,” another source said.

Export potential of Astra​

Sources said the present Astra missile has export potential and can be offered to friendly countries.

“No production version is required to be developed separately. The present version is a platform-independent design, but a few modifications may be required as per platform interfacing and data exchange between missile and aircraft,” a source said when asked if any changes need to be made for export.

But the source added that integration of the Astra missile on an aircraft needs some changes in the fighter too, and hence, the LCA ‘Tejas’ will be a good platform to export, so that all technical expertise will be within the country.

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Also read: BrahMos venture to expand, export missiles to countries as India-Russia ties grow — Moscow

 

[Zapper]

First test of air-to-air missile Astra Mk II likely on February 18​

India’s latest Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile Astra Mk II is all set to move out of the drawing board as the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is likely to conduct its first developmental trial this week.

Defence sources said the indigenously developed missile will be flight tested from a ground launcher being set up at launching complex III of Integrated Test Range (ITR) off Odisha coast on Thursday. The initial trials of the successor of Astra Mk I will be to test the weapon system’s ballistic performance. Once the safe release of the missile from the ground launcher and its propulsion and navigation are validated, it would be test fired from a fighter aircraft.

A team of defence scientists and technical officers are camping at the test facility for the much awaited mission of the year. “The test window is from February 18 to 20. The missile has already been integrated with the launcher and the final check-ups are on. If everything goes as per plan, the missile will be fired on the first date,” sources said. The go ahead for Astra Mk II came nearly seven months after the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved the procurement of Astra Mk I for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Navy.


While the previous version of Astra missile has a range of about 110 km, its advanced variant can strike targets 160 km away. Equipped with improved jammer resistance and dual pulse motor having thrust vector control, the Astra Mk II is latest among the air-to-air missiles of its class. The DRDO has developed an indigenous seeker to improve the performance of the missile and replace the Russian radio frequency seeker used in the Astra Mk I.

Sources said the missile will be powered by Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR), which will enhance its performance and increase the strike range.Procurement of Astra Mk I for the IAF was approved after it completed ground tests and air trial from a Sukhoi 30 MKI aircraft. Process is on to integrate the missile with the Made in India Tejas fighter jet.

Meanwhile, prior to the Mk II test, the DRDO has decided to evacuate people residing within two km radius of the ITR as a safety measure. As many as 8,000 people from at least seven hamlets will be shifted to temporary shelters ahead of the test.

Balasore district administration has been asked to make arrangements and complete the evacuation of villagers before 8 am on the scheduled date. The people shifted for the mission will be compensated as per Ministry of Defence (MoD) norms.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/st...ile-astra-mk-ii-likely-on-feb-18-2265176.html

 

[Nilgiri]