India has taken a significant step toward strengthening its beyond-visual-range (BVR) air combat capability with the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) granting Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the procurement of the Astra Mk-2 air-to-air missile for the Indian Air Force (IAF) on December 29, 2025. The decision signals growing institutional confidence in one of the country’s most ambitious indigenous missile programmes, even as questions remain over testing timelines and final configurations.
In its press release, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) said the Astra Mk-2, with its enhanced range, would “increase the capability of the fighter aircraft to neutralise adversary aircraft from large standoff ranges.” The AoN typically marks a crucial transition point in defence procurement, often indicating that development has reached maturity and that the system is nearing or entering the testing and induction phase.
However, the Astra Mk-2’s development history suggests a more complex trajectory.
Development of the Astra Mk-2 began in 2014, soon after the maiden test of the Astra Mk-1 missile on May 4 that year. At the time, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) confirmed it was already working on a more capable follow-on variant with substantially greater range.
The Astra programme was originally conceived as an indigenous medium-range air-to-air missile with a range of about 44 km but a high single-shot kill probability (SSKP). Over time, both the Mk-1 and Mk-2 evolved well beyond those initial benchmarks. According to Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), which manufactures the missile, the Astra Mk-1 has a reported range of 80–110 km, depending on launch altitude, speed and target aspect.
Air-to-air missile ranges vary significantly with engagement geometry. Maximum ranges—often cited in media reports—are usually achieved in high-altitude, head-on engagements. For the Astra Mk-1, planned trials included launches from 15 km altitude with ranges of up to 90–110 km, from 30,000 feet with a range of around 44 km, and from sea level with a range closer to 30 km.
The Mk-2 was envisioned from the outset as a true long-range BVR weapon, capable of engaging targets well beyond 100 km.
Since 2020, multiple reports have suggested that the Astra Mk-2 was on the verge of flight testing. The Times of India reported in November 2020 that DRDO planned to begin testing a 160 km-range variant in the first half of 2021. In February 2021, news agency ANI quoted government officials as saying trials would begin in the second half of that year and that full development would be completed by 2022.
Further reports in May 2022 again suggested that testing was imminent. Yet, by late 2025, there has been no public confirmation of a full-scale flight test of the Mk-2, raising questions about technical challenges and evolving design goals.
The Astra Mk-2 represents a significant technological leap over its predecessor. Its most notable feature is a dual-pulse rocket motor, which provides sustained energy throughout the missile’s flight. This not only extends the missile’s maximum range but also improves manoeuvrability and speed during the terminal phase, when targets are most likely to attempt evasive action.
The longer reach of the Mk-2 requires more sophisticated guidance and sensing technologies. Reports indicate that the missile uses a fibre-optic gyroscope (FOG)-based inertial navigation system (INS) for mid-course guidance, supported by a two-way data link. This allows mid-course updates from the launch aircraft or from Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) platforms, increasing engagement flexibility.
For terminal homing, the Mk-2 is expected to employ a miniature active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar seeker, a critical capability for long-range air combat in heavily contested electronic warfare environments.
In October 2025, Indian media reported that DRDO specialists had examined the AESA seeker of the export variant of China’s PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile. The missile was reportedly launched by a Pakistan Air Force fighter during Operation Sindoor but failed to hit its target or self-destruct, crashing near Hoshiarpur in Punjab with much of its seeker intact.
According to sources cited by Hindustan Times, analysis of the PL-15’s seeker revealed several design features that could inform improvements to the Astra Mk-2, particularly in radar performance and resistance to jamming. The PL-15 is also believed to use an advanced propellant that sustains speeds in excess of Mach 5, enhancing its kinematic reach and end-game lethality.
Indian defence experts assess that studying the PL-15 could provide valuable insight into its miniature AESA radar architecture, propulsion characteristics and electronic counter-countermeasures. Reports suggest that France, Japan and possibly the United States have also shown interest in examining the missile’s technology.
The recovery of a largely intact missile is widely seen as a rare technical windfall, though analysts note that the apparent failure of the PL-15’s self-destruct mechanism itself points to potential reliability issues that would also be scrutinised.
There is now speculation that DRDO may incorporate lessons from the PL-15 into the Astra Mk-2, particularly in seeker design and propulsion. If substantial changes are made, this could further delay flight testing. Alternatively, the IAF may opt to proceed with trials of the existing configuration while incremental upgrades are developed in parallel.
The missile’s eventual induction is closely tied to India’s fighter modernisation plans. The indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk-1A, which completed its maiden flight on October 17 this year, is expected to be one of the primary platforms for the Astra Mk-2, alongside the Su-30MKI fleet.
According to proposals under consideration by the Ministry of Defence, the IAF could eventually procure around 700 Astra Mk-2 missiles. If realised, this would significantly enhance India’s indigenous BVR strike capability at a time of rapidly evolving regional airpower dynamics.
