IAF completes pre-induction flight tests of Astra BVR air-to-air missile
27 Sep 2018
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India on Wednesday successfully completed the pre-induction flight test of the indigenously developed Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) Astra, completing a series of trials.
The missile, test fired by an Indian Air Force Su-30 aircraft from Air Force Station, Kalaikunda, successfully engaged a manoeuvring target with high precision meeting the mission objectives.
In the series of trials held to date, Astra has been launched in the complete Su-30 flight envelope.
Astra is India's first all-weather, beyond-visual-range, air-to-air missile developed by the state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation.
The missile features mid-course inertial guidance with terminal active radar homing, and is designed to be capable of engaging targets at varying range and altitudes from 20 km to 80 km.
The latest flight test assumes significance as it was part of the series of final pre-induction trials, a defence ministry release stated. Astra is the best in class weapon system and has undergone more than twenty developmental trials, it added.
Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman lauded the efforts of Indian Air Force, DRDO and associated team members involved in the mission and said India has attained a high level of capability in the indigenous design and development of advanced weapon systems.
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