Rafael To Test I-Derby BVR Missile On India’s Tejas Aircraft This Year

Rafael has scheduled the first test firing of its  I-Derby beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile integrated on India's Tejas light combat aircraft later this year.

The I-Derby will become the Tejas fighter’s main air-to-air weapon following the completion of testing, Flightglobal.com reported. 

India could also later equip Aeronautical Development Agency's single-engine [Tejas] aircraft with Rafael’s latest extended-range (ER) version of the missile, Yossi Horowitz, director of marketing and business development at the Israeli company’s air superiority systems division said.

The I-Derby ER has a range of up to 54nm (100km), with the weapon also carrying a new radar seeker. The missile can be deployed from a fighter’s rail launchers, or by using a “shove” pyrotechnic charge that jettisons it from a fuselage stores station before its rocket motor ignites.

Meanwhile, Rafael is also readying to offer its Spike ER air-to-surface missile to meet an Indian requirement for helicopter-launched weapons.

A previous tender failed to advance after potential bidders were unable to match New Delhi’s requested technical specifications. Rafael will offer the 4.3nm-range Spike ER in combination with a new launcher.