The cannon comes in a basic variant GSh-23, and more popular GSh-23L , differing mostly in adding a muzzle brake, lowering recoil force. These cannon was standard fit on late-model MiG-21 fighters (M, MF, SMT, bis), all variants of the MiG-23, the SOKO J-22 Orao and IAR 93, and the tail turrets of the Tupolev Tu-22M 'Backfire' bomber and some late-model Tu-95s. In that application, it had the unusual ability to fire infrared flares and chaff rounds, allowing it to function as both a weapon and a dispenser of anti-missile countermeasures. It is also mounted on late small series

"        Type: dual-barrel automatic cannon

"        Caliber: 23 mm (1.18 in)

"        Operation: Gast principle

"        Length: 1387 mm (GSh-23), 1537 mm (GSh-23L),

"        Barrel length: 1000 mm

"        Weight (complete): 50 kg (105 lb)

"        Rate of fire: 3,000-3,400 rpm

"        Muzzle velocity: 720 m/s (2,360 ft/s)

"        Projectile weight: 180 g (6.3 oz)

The Astra missile is an air-to-air (AA), beyond visual range (BVR) missile under development by India. This is the first indigenous air-to-air missile developed by India. The range of this missile is 80 km in head-on chase and 15 km in tail chase. This missile was successfully tested without control and guidance systems on May 9 to May 12, 2003.

India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing this advanced beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) for its Mirage 2000, MiG-29, Sea Harrier, Su-30, and the Light Combat Aircraft [LCA]. Astra looks like an elongated Matra 530. It uses an indigenously developed solid fuel propellant, though DRDO is believed to be looking at rocket/ramjet propulsion similar to that used in its AKASH SAM project. The missile's onboard radio-frequency seeker has been designed in India. It will have an active homing range of 15 km. The missile has a pre-fragmented warhead & is fitted with a proximity fuze. A radar fuze already exists for the Astra, but the DRDO is currently working on a new laser fuze.

First test: May 9, 2003

Total length: 3570 mm (11.7 ft)

Diameter: 7 in (178 mm )

Wingspan: 10 in (254 mm)

Weight: 154 kg (339 lb)

< 250 kg (550 lb) including launcher

Warhead: 15 kg (33 lb) HE fragmentation directional warhead

Fuze: Radar proximity fuze

Propulsion: solid fuel

Maximum speed: Mach 4 +

Maximum effective range: 80 km head on, 15 km tail chase, over 100 km (eventually)

Maximum altitude: 20 km (66,000 ft)

Minimum altitude: sea level

Missile g load: 40 g (400 m/s²)

Target g load: 9 g (90 m/s²)

Guidance mode: Inertial + mid-course update & terminal active radar (15 km)

Launch aircraft speed: Mach 0.6 to 2.2

1x 23 mm GSh-23 cannon

Seven external stations + one station for pod

Astra BVRAAM, R-77, or R-73 air-to-air missiles

Laser guided bombs, unguided bombs

Drop tanks

Recce pods

EW pods

Prototypes Versions