India may use the Russian R-37M as a temporary solution and then create its own missile of a similar class. This was reported on October 6 by the Indian publication IDRW, citing an unnamed representative of the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). According to him, DRDO is capable of creating the missile from scratch in 6–8 years — most of the necessary technologies are already being developed in the Astra program.

DRDO's existing technological groundwork covers the propulsion system, seeker head, and data link. However, the body, warhead, and aircraft integration system will have to be developed from scratch — this is what determines the minimum six-year timeframe.

The proposed project differs significantly from the current Astra in scale. The R-37 weighs about 600 kg, while the Astra family missiles weigh less than 200 kg without a pylon. The Indian analogue will be longer, thicker, and almost three times heavier than the Astra MkII, and will be based on a large solid-propellant engine: a missile of this class flies along a semi-ballistic trajectory and is launched from high altitudes, hitting targets 300–400 km deep into enemy airspace.

According to the DRDO representative, a missile of this class will be limited to large and expensive targets — primarily tanker aircraft. At the same time, an extended Astra Mk2, according to the publication, could become the basis for a “killer AWACS” — a weapon against airborne early warning aircraft. For the Indian Air Force, its own missile looks like a cheaper option than the ramjet Astra Mk3, with comparable range.

Currently, India expects to meet its need for particularly long-range weapons through Russian R-37M missiles: plans include the purchase of 300 units for the period until the Astra Mk2 and Mk3 are ready, which themselves remain under development. The need for a long-range missile arose after the 80–90 km range of the R-77 proved insufficient against the backdrop of the appearance of the PL-15E in Pakistan's arsenal.