India Successfully Flight-Tests Astra Missile

The indigenous air-to-air BVR Astra Missile was successfully flight tested by India on Tuesday. It was fired from a Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jet.

Crux of the Matter

1. The test was conducted off the coast of Odisha.

2. Astra has been designed and developed by DRDO.

3. The all-weather Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile can engage aerial targets at various altitudes.

4. It carries 15 kg high explosive warhead and boasts of a 80 km strike range.

5. Astra is the Sanskrit word for projectile weapon.

Curiopedia

Astra is an all weather beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, India. It is the first air-to-air missile developed by India. It features mid-course inertial guidance with terminal active radar homing. Astra is designed to be capable of engaging targets at varying range and altitudes allowing for engagement of both short-range targets at a distance of 20 km and long-range targets up to a distance of 80 km. Astra has been integrated with Indian Air Force’s Sukhoi Su-30MKI and will be integrated with Dassault Mirage 2000 and Mikoyan MiG-29 in the future. Limited series production of Astra missiles began in 2017. More Info

Curated Coverage

1. Livemint – Watch: Astra missile successfully flight tested from Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jet

2. The Financial Express – Deadly weapon! IAF successfully test-fires air-to-air missile Astra from Sukhoi-30 combat aircrafts

3. ANI – IAF, DRDO carry out test firing of Astra air-to-air missile

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