Cannot shoot AMRAAMs with A-Sat.

Two days back an anti-satellite (A-Sat) missile developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) destroyed a non-functioning satellite in low orbit, about 300 km above earth. Only three other countries, the US, Russia and China have the same capability. Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally announced the successful test on television. "India's scientists have successfully hit a target in space with an anti-satellite missile. The target was a live satellite which was flying in a low earth orbit. The missile travelled a distance of almost 300 km from earth and hit the target within 3 minutes of its launch," he said. Coming just two weeks before general elections, starting on 11 April, opposition parties were incensed at, what they felt, was blatant violation of the model code of conduct, which comes into effect as soon as the Election Commission declares election dates. "Today's announcement is yet another limitless drama and publicity mongering by Modi desperately trying to reap political benefits at the time of an election. This is gross violation of the model code of conduct." Opposition politicians have themselves to blame. Former chief of DRDO VK Saraswat said that the program was ready in 2013 but the United Progressive Alliance government, formed by a coalition of parties, never gave its permission. "We told the government at that time that we have the capability to demonstrate this, please give your concurrence. The government neither said yes nor said no but never gave any positive response. No reasons were assigned," he said. This A-Sat completely indigenous. "See, this is a completely desi baby, from the missile to its sub-systems, software, sensors and everything has been developed indigenously....," said Chairman of DRDO GS Reddy. " "Number two, given that this is a very high-end technology, a lot of systems and technologies developed for this will be useful for future program." "The missile has technologies developed for ballistic missile defence applications, particularly the kill vehicle." This is a fantastic achievement for our scientists but if it comes to ballistic missiles and satellite warfare we would be under serious attack. The recent air strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp at Balakot in Pakistan was followed by a reprisal attack by Pakistan. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) "was able to create surprise and local superiority -- technological and numerical -- in a chosen battlefield," wrote journalist S Gupta. "Four Sukhoi-30s, the IAF's most powerful air-superiority aircraft, were involved in the melee at beyond visual range (BVR). They were surprised by the PAF F-16s firing their AMRAAM missiles from so far that their own radar/computer/missiles were not able to give them a 'firing solution'." We were simply outgunned. This is because George Fernandes refused to allow the IAF to buy Mirage-2000s Dassault was will to make in India. A-Sat is an achievement, but let us first improve the basics.