Indonesia is set to become the first foreign buyer of India’s indigenous Astra Mk1 air-to-air missile, with the deal expected to come up for discussion during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ongoing visit to the country.
The two sides are likely to finalise talks on the procurement during the bilateral meetings in Jakarta. Indonesia operates Russian-origin fighter jets such as the Su-27 and Su-30, which can integrate the Astra missile as an alternative to older Russian systems.
Defence officials said the discussions form part of efforts to expand defence cooperation between the two nations. They added that the visit aims to strengthen strategic ties in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Astra Mk1 is a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation. It features an active radar seeker and has a range of over 100 kilometres. The solid-fuelled missile can be fired from multiple Indian fighter platforms, including the Su-30MKI and Tejas. Each missile costs between Rs 7 crore and Rs 8 crore. Bharat Dynamics Limited produces the weapon for the Indian Air Force and Navy.
The proposed deal marks a significant step in India’s push to export indigenous defence equipment. It comes at a time when several countries are looking to diversify their arms suppliers amid delays in Russian deliveries. Indonesia has shown interest in Indian systems as part of its military modernisation programme.
Prime Minister Modi’s three-day visit focuses on defence, trade and maritime security. Both countries already cooperate in areas such as counter-terrorism and disaster relief. The missile talks build on earlier briefings given to Indonesian officials about the Astra system.
India has increased its defence exports in recent years through products like the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, which the Philippines has already acquired. The Astra deal would add another successful indigenous platform to the export list and support the government’s goal of self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
