The Unit

Astra is the RAF's approach to grassroots innovation. It is driving an RAF that thrives on innovation, challenges the status quo, and is committed to continuous improvement.

Astra is fostering a mindset of innovation that engages and inspires personnel at all levels. This approach aims to unleash the creativity and ingenuity of our people, enabling meaningful changes across the RAF, including solutions to operational challenges.

To succeed in a rapidly changing world, the RAF must be prepared to confront future threats, especially as technology advances. Our ability to think differently, question the norm, and embrace innovation will be crucial to our future success.

Connect with Astra

What we do

Astra encourages our people to innovate, challenge, and improve, making the most of their skills.

Our approach to grassroots innovation includes using new technology or existing technology in a new way, challenging unhelpful policy, and the pursuit of continuous improvement.

Put simply, organisations that do grassroots innovation outperform organisations that don’t. In today’s highly competitive and contested world, harnessing the power of grassroots innovation has never been more important to ensure the RAF continues to deliver world class air power.

Astra allows the RAF to tap into the energy, creativity, and determination of the whole force to deliver meaningful change, including for operational problem sets. It is supporting a cultural change that is promoting and instilling an innovation mindset in the whole force. Innovators at all levels are empowered to solve the problems that matter to them, with support and guidance from the Astra Team.

Podcast Episode

Hear below from InsideAIR taking a look behind the scenes at the Astra Awards in 2022; celebrating innovation in the RAF.

 

Air Officer Commanding

Air Vice-Marshal Suraya Marshall

Air Vice-Marshal Suraya Marshall took responsibility for Astra in June 2024. 

After graduating from the University of Nottingham with a Law degree, she joined the Royal Air Force as a Navigator in 1994. While flying on the Tornado F3, she participated in numerous operational deployments and many overseas, multi-national training exercises.

Previous command appointments have included Commandant of the Royal Air Force College and Air Officer Commanding No. 2 Group, where she also had responsibility for units implementing grassroots innovation initiatives at a local level. She was appointed Assistant Chief of the Air Staff in June 2024, where she took responsibility for Astra.

Her experience working in operational command and control, with coalition partners, and in staff appointments, supports the delivery of the RAF's approach to grassroots innovation.