Long ago in the Mahabharata, warriors spoke of Gandiva, Arjuna’s divine bow that could strike from great distances. Today, the name lives on, not in myth, but in India's skies. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has given the name ‘Gandiva’ to its most powerful air-to-air missile, Astra Mk3.

But this is not just about names. This is a real story of how India is moving from buying weapons to building world-class ones on its own.

How the Astra Missile journey began

India’s work on the Astra missile began in the early 1990s at DRDO’s lab in Hyderabad. At first, it was a small project with little funding. Today, it has become one of India’s most important defence programs, producing three powerful missiles that can match the best in the world.

What is a beyond Visual Range (BVR) Missile?

A Beyond Visual Range missile is a smart weapon. It can hit enemy aircraft from far away, sometimes over 300 km. The pilot doesn’t have to see the enemy; the missile has its own radar to find and destroy the target.

Astra Mk1: The first in the family

The Astra Mk1 is already used by the Indian Air Force and Navy. It’s about 3.6 meters long, weighs 154 kg, and can hit targets more than 100 km away.

Once launched, this missile doesn't need more help from the fighter jet. It follows the enemy on its own using radar. This is called a “fire and forget” system. It works with fighter jets like the Sukhoi Su-30MKI and the Indian-made Tejas.

The Indian government signed a ₹2,971 crore deal to make over 350 Astra Mk1 missiles. Though each costs ₹7–8 crore, it’s still cheaper than buying foreign missiles.

Astra Mk2: More power, more range

While Mk1 was being tested, scientists had already started work on its more powerful version, Astra Mk2. This version can hit targets up to 160 km away, thanks to a special dual-pulse motor.

This motor works like a car with two fuel tanks: one used during launch, and the second later to keep the missile flying faster for longer. This makes it very hard for enemy aircraft to escape.

Astra Mk2 is slightly heavier (175 kg), but it performs better than China’s PL-15E, which weighs more and has a shorter range.

Videos already show Astra Mk2 being tested on Su-30MKI jets, and it's expected to enter service soon.

Astra Mk3 ‘Gandiva’: India’s game changer

The real star of the Astra series is Astra Mk3, also called Gandiva. This missile takes India into a new league, thanks to its ramjet engine, which is different from the rocket engines used before.

This Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) allows Gandiva to fly faster and farther, using air from the atmosphere to keep going. It can strike targets over 300 km away and reach speeds up to Mach 4.5, more than four times the speed of sound.

Why does this matter? At such high speeds and range, enemy planes get very little time to react or fight back.

Designed to tackle modern threats

Gandiva isn’t just about speed. It’s also being developed to counter advanced enemy aircraft like China’s J-20 stealth jet and their long-range missiles. Gandiva could hit enemy planes before they even get a chance to fire.

Smart tech inside: The missile’s “brain”

The guidance system of Gandiva is just as advanced as its engine. Right now, it uses an AESA radar seeker based on Gallium Arsenide. But the final version will upgrade to Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology.

This matters because GaN seekers:

  • Perform better at high temperatures

  • Use less power

  • Are harder to jam with electronic tricks

Thanks to India’s progress in semiconductor technology under Aatmanirbhar Bharat, we’re able to build such smart components right here at home.

Testing and production timeline

In December 2024, DRDO successfully tested the ramjet engine. The missile is now going through “captive trials”, where it's mounted on fighter jets like the Su-30MKI to see how it behaves in the air.

The next step is live testing, where the missile is actually launched at real targets. DRDO hopes to start full production of Gandiva by 2030–2031.

Flying high on Indian aircraft

The Astra missiles are designed to work with multiple Indian aircraft. The Mk1 has already been successfully launched from the Tejas in 2025, hitting targets over 100 km away.

The new Tejas Mk1A, now being delivered to the Air Force, comes ready for Astra missiles. It was recently seen carrying Astra Mk1 and ASRAAM missiles during flight tests.

That’s not all. The Astra family will eventually be used on Su-30MKI, Tejas, and possibly Rafale jets. This gives Indian pilots a common, powerful weapon across different aircraft.

The Astra missile program is more than just about defence. It brings big benefits:

  • Saves money: Building missiles in India keeps money in the country and supports jobs.

  • Self-reliance: No need to depend on foreign suppliers during emergencies.

  • Export potential: Countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and even Brazil have shown interest in buying Astra missiles.

  • Boosts technology: The systems made for Astra can help in other military and civilian tech too.

Astra Mk1 is already active. Mk2 is almost ready. Gandiva, or Astra Mk3, is in the final stages of development. Once ready, these missiles will replace all foreign air-to-air missiles used by the Indian Air Force, except the Mirage 2000 fleet.

There are still challenges, making ramjet tech smaller and fully reliable takes time and testing. But India’s progress so far shows that we’re on the right track.

From a simple idea in the 1990s to a powerful missile like Gandiva, the Astra program shows how far India has come. It’s a symbol of our growth, skill, and determination.

Just like Arjuna’s Gandiva gave him the strength to fight for what was right, this modern Gandiva will help protect India’s skies with confidence and pride.

The sky is no longer the limit. For India’s defence technology, it’s just the beginning.