Indian Navy and IAF Rafales to be Armed with Rudram-I Anti-Radiation Missile, Astra Mk1 BVRAAM and Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW)

Indian Navy and IAF Rafales to be Armed with Rudram-I Anti-Radiation Missile, Astra Mk1 BVRAAM and Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW)


In a major move to enhance its military firepower and advance its self-reliance goals, India will equip its entire fleet of Rafale fighter jets with three domestically developed weapon systems.

The Indian Air Force's (IAF) 36 Rafales and the Indian Navy’s newly ordered 26 Rafale Marine aircraft will be integrated with the Rudram-I anti-radiation missile, the Astra Mk1 beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, and the Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW).

This decision marks a significant milestone for India's "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (Self-Reliant India) initiative, which seeks to build a robust indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem.

By arming one of the world's most advanced fighter platforms with Indian-made weapons, the nation reduces its dependence on foreign suppliers, achieves greater strategic autonomy, and standardizes munitions across its various fighter fleets.

The integration is a key component of the recent €7 billion deal signed with France for the naval Rafale-M jets. As part of the agreement, French manufacturer Dassault Aviation will facilitate the complex process of integrating these weapons, which are developed by India’s DRDO.

Advanced Indigenous Weaponry

Each of the three weapon systems provides a distinct and critical capability to the armed forces:
  • Rudram-I Anti-Radiation Missile: This is India's first indigenously developed anti-radiation missile, designed to perform Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD) missions. With a range of up to 150 kilometres, Rudram-I can detect and destroy enemy radar stations, communication hubs, and air defence systems. This capability is crucial for achieving air superiority in the initial stages of a conflict, allowing friendly aircraft to operate with greater freedom. The missile will replace older Russian systems, offering a more modern and cost-effective domestic solution.
  • Astra Mk1 BVRAAM: The Astra Mk1 is a sophisticated beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile capable of engaging enemy aircraft from a distance of 110 kilometres. Already being integrated with the Su-30MKI and Tejas Mk1A fighters, its inclusion on the Rafale will enhance interoperability. Priced at approximately ₹7-8 crore per unit, the Astra is significantly more economical than its French counterpart, the Meteor missile (around ₹25 crore), while offering comparable performance. This cost advantage allows for wider deployment and stockpiling.
  • Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW): A precision-guided glide bomb, the SAAW is designed to destroy critical enemy airfield infrastructure such as runways, bunkers, and radar installations from a safe distance of 100 kilometres. The 125 kg weapon features advanced navigation and, in its electro-optical variant, can achieve an accuracy of within three meters, ensuring precise strikes with minimal collateral damage even in adverse weather conditions.

Details of the Rafale-M Contract​

The agreement for the 26 naval Rafales, finalized on April 28, 2025, includes 22 single-seat fighters and four twin-seat trainers. The comprehensive package covers performance-based logistics, training, and a weapons suite that also includes the European Meteor and Exocet anti-ship missiles.

A crucial part of the deal mandates local production of certain components, with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) set to manufacture the fuselage in Hyderabad by 2028. Furthermore, a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility for the Rafale's engine and sensors will be established in India.

Integration Challenges Remain​

While the agreement to integrate Indian weapons is a major step, technical challenges persist. The process requires modifications to the Rafale's core software, including its Thales RBE2 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar and Modular Mission Computer.

Dassault Aviation has historically been reluctant to share these proprietary source codes, citing intellectual property concerns and potential competition for its own missile systems.

Indian officials are pushing for greater access to enable independent future upgrades, drawing lessons from past experiences with platforms like the Mirage-2000.

Alternative solutions, such as the use of a software development kit (SDK) or the establishment of a joint Indo-French integration team, are being explored to overcome this impasse, balancing French commercial interests with India’s need for technological and operational autonomy.
 
France, Israel , both have supplied tech to china with aim to get into 3ed world countries so good that we can have our own systems.
 
Has Rafael supplied the necessary source codes for the integration of these desi missiles? It should be.... Good for IAF & the nation.....
 
France is now playing all over , even Israel has refused its systems and politics views so we must be careful with France and make our own calculation in battle use of French equipment as France is totally poros to sharing tech at cost.
 
Oh, even third-party weapons too should be integrated on Rafale. Next will be BrahMos-NG and Nirbhay's air-launched version. Selling fighters is a one-time profit, while upgrading and selling weapons are the life-span profit of fighter jets, apart from spares.

Dual and triple pylons too should be integrated on Rafale to carry more BVR/WVR missiles in one sortie. I have several times said Rafale lacks an Anti-Radiation Missile in its package, and the second biggest shortcoming after the Anti-Radiation Missile is the Anti-ship Missile, which is currently integrated with outdated tech with short range.

In the future, it should be replaced with the indigenous NASM-MR Anti-ship Missile with over 200 to 300 km range. Rafale has only Meteor and SCALP weapons, while for HAMMER, there is an Israeli SPICE alternative.
 
With Pakistan having PL-15 and going to get PL-17, it is a waste to integrate Astra 1 with Rafale. Any AAM less than 200 km is of no use in the current scenario. Also, Meteor missile's performance in the air war with Pakistan is very much questionable. It should have shot down 20 Pakistani fighters.
 
With Pakistan having PL-15 and going to get PL-17, it is a waste to integrate Astra 1 with Rafale. Any AAM less than 200 km is of no use in the current scenario. Also, Meteor missile's performance in the air war with Pakistan is very much questionable. It should have shot down 20 Pakistani fighters.
PL-15 missile is said to be above 5 Mach with a range of around 150Kms having the sophisticated guidance system, including an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar that provides accuracy and resistance to jamming while PL-17 missile is powered by a dual pulse rocket motor and flies in lofted launch trajectory to achieve the reported range between 300–500 km as to various media, or atleast 400 km with a top speed in excess of Mach 4. So we have to go for a better factors both for the speed & the range. We have to develope a missile similar to Russian R-37M AAM missile having 6 Mach with the range of atleast 400Kms.
 
With Pakistan having PL-15 and going to get PL-17, it is a waste to integrate Astra 1 with Rafale. Any AAM less than 200 km is of no use in the current scenario. Also, Meteor missile's performance in the air war with Pakistan is very much questionable. It should have shot down 20 Pakistani fighters.
PL-15 has been analysed and its range is found to be around Astra Mk1. So let's not get carried away by Chinese claims.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
5,384
Messages
53,506
Members
3,530
Latest member
chintan9977
Back
Top