India has just drawn its most potent arrow from the quiver, and named it Gandiva, after Arjuna’s legendary celestial bow from the Mahabharata. The Astra Mk-III, India’s latest and most sophisticated air-to-air missile, has now officially been rechristened, signalling not just a leap in firepower, but a decisive turn in the country’s quest for air superiority.
A Missile of Hindu Might
Still under development by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Gandiva is no ordinary weapon. It’s a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) powered by a cutting-edge Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) propulsion system, a first for India. With a blistering strike range of up to 340 kilometers, it leaves most of its global counterparts far behind, setting a new benchmark in aerial warfare.
When fired from an altitude of 20 kilometers, Gandiva can hit targets 340 km away. At lower altitudes (around 8 km), it still maintains a deadly reach of 190 km. These numbers don’t just impress, they intimidate.
How Gandiva Beats the US and China
The missile’s induction will fundamentally tilt the regional air combat equation. The Indian Air Force (IAF) already operates French-made Rafale jets equipped with MBDA Meteor missiles, which max out at around 200 km. But the Gandiva soars well beyond that, entering a rarefied league of high-performance missiles alongside, and above, China’s PL-15 (300 km) and the US-made AIM-174 (240 km).
More importantly, it arms India with indigenous firepower, a strategic shift from imported systems to homegrown lethality.
Spearhead of Sky Warfare- From Sea to Stratosphere
Set to be deployed on frontline fighters like the Sukhoi Su-30MKI and the indigenous Tejas, the Gandiva brings not just range, but unmatched versatility. It can strike an array of high-value aerial targets: enemy fighters, bombers, transport aircraft, refueling planes, and AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) platforms.
Its dual-fuel ducted ramjet engine allows it to be launched from sea level or the stratosphere, up to 20 km in altitude. The missile accelerates with launch speeds between Mach 0.8 to 2.2, hunting targets at speeds reaching Mach 3.6. It’s not just about reaching the enemy first, it’s about outmanoeuvring them mid-air.
Its agility is bolstered by a 20-degree angle of attack capability, allowing it to zero in on even the most evasive targets.
Battle-Tested, Sky-Ready-
While not yet operational, the missile has cleared major developmental milestones. Ground tests have successfully validated its booster systems, nozzleless boosters, and separation mechanisms in Flight Tests FT-01 and FT-02. The next stage? Live firing from IAF platforms to ensure seamless integration with onboard radar and fire control systems.
All eyes now turn to the Indian skies, where Su-30MKIs and Tejas jets are being prepped to unleash Gandiva in full fury.
Gandiva isn’t just a missile, it’s a symbol. A symbol of India’s maturing defence ecosystem, its technological self-reliance, and its readiness to dominate future air battles on its own terms.
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