India has signed an agreement with Indonesia to supply Astra Mk 1 air-to-air missiles for Su-30 fighters, IDRW portal reports. This is the first export of Indian missiles of this type. The deal was a result of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Jakarta.

The Astra Mk 1 missile is designed to engage targets beyond visual range. Its range reaches 80–110 km, and it is equipped with an active radar homing head. The missile is already in service with the Indian Air Force and integrated with Su-30MKI fighters.

For Indonesia, the deal solves the problem of unstable supplies of Russian R-77 missiles. Due to Russia's high domestic demand in connection with the armed conflict, export supplies have decreased, forcing Su-30 operators to look for alternatives.

For Russia, this agreement presents a strategic dilemma, the IDRW article notes. On the one hand, the country is losing its monopoly on the supply of weapons for sold fighters. India has demonstrated that it can independently integrate its missiles onto Russian platforms for foreign customers, which was previously Moscow's exclusive prerogative. On the other hand, Moscow did not publicly oppose the deal: Indian weapons do not carry the sanctions risks associated with direct purchases of weapons from Russia. Therefore, the presence of Indian missiles can extend the service life of Su-30 fighters, allowing Russia to retain revenue from their maintenance and repair.

India had previously integrated British ASRAAM missiles onto its Su-30MKIs, despite Russia's doubts about the technical feasibility of the solution. Now New Delhi offers a ready-made solution to other countries that have purchased Russian aircraft.