By Express News Service
HYDERABAD: Bharat Dynamics Limited and the Ministry of Defence signed a contract worth Rs 2,971 crore for indigenous manufacture and supply of ASTRA MK-1 Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Air to Air Missile (AAM) and associated equipment for the Indian Air Force & Indian Navy under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category.
Bharat Dynamics CMD Commodore Siddharth Mishra (Retd) stated that in addition to the Indian Armed Forces & Indian Navy, BDL is also offering Astra missiles for export to friendly foreign countries. BDL has augmented its manufacturing capacity to meet the domestic as well as overseas demand for Astra missile.
Astra is an indigenously developed Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air missile. The missile has a range between 80 km to 110 km and has an altitude up to 20 km. The weapon has been designed and developed by DRDO and BDL is the manufacturing agency.
Induction of Astra Mk 1 weapon system programme into Indian Air Force and Indian Navy will act as a catalyst for creation of infrastructure like hanger, storage buildings, testing facilities for manufacturing. This programme will create opportunities in Aerospace Technology by involving several MSMEs spread over the country.
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