India eyes Astra Mk2 upgrade for Mirage 2000 fleet

The Indian Air Force and DRDO are reportedly exploring a major upgrade to arm the Dassault Mirage 2000 'Vajra' fleet with the next-generation Astra Mk2 air-to-air missile. This upgrade would transform the aircraft into a long-range kill platform, capable of engaging enemy targets at distances of 200–240 kilometers. The Astra Mk2 features a dual-pulse rocket motor for extra speed in its terminal phase, an AESA seeker for high-precision tracking, and electronic counter-countermeasure (ECCM) capabilities to resist jamming. The move is seen as a significant leap to bolster India's air dominance against regional rivals Pakistan and China.