Why is it in the news?
The Indian Air Force is set to equip MiG-29 fighter jets with ASRAAM. It enhances India’s close-combat air defence capability.
Category: Defence
Important Points:
● ASRAAM is a short-range air-to-air missile
● Designed in Europe and built by MBDA
● Measures about 2.9 metres and weighs 88 kg
● Carries a high-explosive warhead
● Uses heat-seeking technology for targeting
● Operates on fire-and-forget principle
● Speed exceeds Mach 3
● Can engage targets beyond 25 km range
● Has Lock-On After Launch capability
● Integrated with aircraft like LCA Tejas and Jaguar