India favors Israeli made air-air missiles for its fighter aircraft
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The long and tedious process involved in a selection of a new fighter for the Indian air force is still on. If India finally selects the Russian made Su-30 fighter it plans to equip it with Israeli made air-air missiles.
The Indian government has yet to make the final selection between the French company Rafale and the Russian Su-30. The first overhauled Su-30 MKI aircraft was recently delivered to the Indian air force. The upgrade was performed by HAL and included structure and avionics work.
If the SU-30 is finally selected to be the backbone if the Indian air force, the intention of the Indians is to equip it with two Israeli made air-air missiles. Both are manufactured by Rafael. One is the Python-5, a fifth generation air-to-air missile and the other is the Derby active radar missile.
Python-5 has a length of 3.1m, and diameter of 16cm. The weight of the missile is 105kg. It can carry an 11kg high explosive fragmentation warhead equipped with an active laser proximity fuse.
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Python-5 features a new electro-optical infrared seeker with high off-boresight capability. The infrared seeker scans the target area for the threat and locks-on for terminal chase after the target is identified.
It employs a dual waveband focal plane array (FPA). The FPA ensures the attainment of small, low signature aim-points during day or night in clear and cloudy conditions. The highly advanced image and signal algorithms guide the missile towards the target.
Python-5 is also equipped with lock-on-before launch (LOBL) and lock-on-after launch (LOAL) capabilities. In LOAL mode, the target information is transmitted from the launch aircraft to the missile.
The missile offers a high hit probability and excellent resistance to countermeasures. It can even engage targets capable of performing evasive maneuvers. The full sphere launch capability allows 360 degree engagement around the launch aircraft. The all-aspect / all-direction attack ability ensures the simultaneous destruction of multiple targets.
The Derby is BVR, medium-range active radar homing missile. Its length is 362 cm and it has a diameter of 16 cm. The missile Weights 118 kg whereas the warhead weighs 2 kg.
