RAS question
Astra is India's indigenously developed Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM). What is the approximate maximum range of Astra Mk-1?
Correct answer: (A) 110 km.
Astra Mk-1 has an approximate maximum range of 110 km, matching the 80-110 km range listed for India's indigenously developed Astra Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile.
Explanation
Astra Mk-1 is India's indigenously developed Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile, and the official BDL product page lists Astra's range as 80-110 km. That makes 110 km the approximate maximum range to remember for the exam, especially because the question asks for Mk-1's upper-range figure. Bharat Dynamics Limited places Astra in the air-to-air BVRAAM category and lists solid rocket motor propulsion with inertial guidance, mid-course update and terminal active radar homing, which fits the description of a single-stage solid-fuelled missile with an active radar seeker. Do not mix Mk-1 with later development targets: Mk-2 is associated with 160+ km and Mk-3 with 350+ km.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) 1,000 km is a strategic-missile range class, while the official Astra range is only 80-110 km.
- (C) 10 km is too short for this BVRAAM, because BDL lists Astra's operational range band as 80-110 km.
- (D) 500 km far exceeds Astra Mk-1's official 80-110 km range and is not the Mk-1 maximum asked in the question.
Concept
This tests defence technology under Science and Technology, especially indigenous missile systems and range classification. RAS repeats such facts because they connect national defence programmes with exam-friendly technical identifiers such as missile type, seeker, propulsion and range.