Indian Air Force’s Su-30 MKI fleet to be equipped with Israeli Derby-ER Beyond Visual Air to Air missile for which a Su-30 MKI was used to conduct series of aeromechanical integrity tests.
In Phase-I of the Captive flight, trials will include Su-30 MKI carrying a Dummy Derby-ER missiles under its wings at one of its six hardpoints for multiple 90 minutes sorties each, that covers the entire flight envelope of the aircraft. Phase-II will be followed with the actual missile being used in Captive flight minus its warhead and at last, the missile’s mechanism will be tested before it is cleared to be fired from an aircraft.
India’s premier air-to-air missile Astra Mk1 and Derby-ER will now be standard beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) in all fighter fleets, India also has received a fresh batch of RVV-SD BVRAAM from Russia. All three missiles have a range of 110-120 Km.
