In modern aerial warfare, the ability to strike first and strike decisively defines the outcome of battles. The race for air superiority is no longer about just dogfights but about engagements far beyond visual range (BVR)—where the aircraft that fires first has the highest chance of survival. Enter Astra Mk-III, India’s latest homegrown beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM), powered by an advanced Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) system, revealed now to be called ‘GANDIVA‘, the name of Arjuna’s bow in the Mahabharata.
In a tantalising data sheet that’s found its way to social media, the Gandiva/Astra Mk-III extends the no-escape zone for enemy fighters like perhaps never before. Data suggests it will be able to strike targets up to 340 km away at high altitudes, and 190 km at 8 km altitude—a range surpassing most air-to-air missiles fielded by adversaries, including the MBDA Meteor in service on the Indian Air Force’s Rafale fighters.
This means that Indian fighter jets equipped with Gandiva/Astra Mk-III can engage enemy aircraft long before they come within striking distance, effectively neutralising threats before they pose a risk. This first-launch advantage is crucial against aircraft equipped with advanced radars, electronic warfare systems, and countermeasures.
With a 20° angle of attack and ±10 km snap-up/snap-down capability, Gandiva/Astra Mk-III can even engage manoeuvering enemy aircraft at extreme altitudes, making it highly effective against high-value targets like AWACS, aerial refuelers, and fifth-generation fighters. Designed to outmatch existing adversary missiles and give the IAF an unquestionable edge in aerial engagements, it is a weapon that could rehshape India’s air combat doctrine. An image of the Gandiva on an Astra launcher has begun to do the round on Twitter, suggesting that the missile is preparing for its first flight test from the air. A precursor of the system has been tested from the ground at least twice so far. You can read about those latter tests here.
A test of the Gandiva/Astra Mk-III from a Su-30 MKI fighter platform is presumably next on the weapon’s testing agenda.
At a length of 3838 mm and a diameter of 178-200 mm, the Gandiva/Astra Mk-III is unquestionably built to deliver lethal precision at extreme ranges, demonstrating a very robust, laser-focused effort to sharpen one of India’s most promising weapon programs. Livefist has tracked the Astra’s journey for years, capturing milestones along the way.
But the Gandiva/Astra Mk-III is a very different system. Unlike conventional solid-fuel missiles, which burn out in seconds, its SFDR propulsion system provides sustained thrust, allowing longer range, higher speeds, and unparalleled manoeuverability. The missile boasts a launch speed of Mach 0.8-2.2 and can intercept targets at Mach 2.0-3.6, making it one of the fastest air-to-air missiles in the world. It can be launched from sea level to 20 km altitude, ensuring it is effective across all combat scenarios.
More impressively, it eliminates the limitations of conventional rocket-powered BVRAAMs, which lose speed as they approach their targets. With throttle control and sustained energy, Gandiva/Astra Mk-III can maintain velocity throughout its flight, making it much harder to evade—a crucial advantage in modern warfare.
Accuracy in BVR combat is everything. Gandiva/Astra Mk-III employs a two-way data link for mid-course guidance, allowing it to receive real-time target updates from the launch aircraft or AWACS. This ensures the missile can adjust its trajectory based on enemy evasive manoeuvers, significantly increasing its probability of kill. For terminal guidance, Astra Mk-III uses a homing system, making it capable of locking onto and pursuing its target even in high-electronic warfare environments. This ensures that even if the enemy tries to jam or disrupt its trajectory, Astra Mk-III remains locked onto its prey. By combining network-centric warfare with long-range precision engagement, Astra Mk-III could push the IAF into the realm of next-gen aerial dominance. When paired with AWACS, the missile can engage enemy aircraft over hostile airspace without exposing Indian pilots to counter-fire.
The future integration of Gandiva/Astra Mk-III into the IAF’s fleet will transform India’s air combat capability. Designed for use with Su-30MKI and Tejas variants, the missile’s adaptability means it can potentially be deployed on Rafale, Mirage-2000, MiG-29, and the future AMCA.
India’s push for indigenous defence technology isn’t just about self-reliance—it’s about ensuring that the IAF remains ahead of adversaries. The Chinese PL-15 and Pakistani AIM-120C5 AMRAAM are formidable weapons, but Astra Mk-III’s longer range, superior agility, and SFDR propulsion give India a clear advantage.
Unlike imported missiles, which may be subject to supply chain uncertainties, the Gandiva/Astra Mk-III can be mass-produced domestically, ensuring that India’s fighter fleet remains fully stocked and combat-ready at all times. It goes without saying that the weapon will be hugely more cost-effective from a customer’s perspective too. With the Indian Navy inducting the Astra, it is almost certain that future deck-based fighters could find space for the new weapon.
Beyond its expected battlefield impact, the Gandiva/Astra Mk-III represents a milestone in India’s long-term vision for defence self-sufficiency. As part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, its development and deployment will strengthen India’s indigenous aerospace industry, boost research and development in next-gen propulsion systems, with applications beyond air-to-air combat and the foundation for future air-to-air missiles, including those for India’s next-generation stealth fighters.
Impending flight testing and integration will mark the dawn of a new era in Indian air combat—one where the IAF obtains a major lead in the terms of engagement.