IAF successfully Test-Fires New ‘Astra’ Missiles

Indian Air Force has successfully test-fired air-to-air missile Astra off the Odisha coast on Tuesday. The missile was launched from Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jets that took off from the West Bengal airbase. India’s first air-to-air missile built by the DRDO has a range of over 70 km. It has engaged accurately with the live aerial target demonstrating its capability.

Check out the video here:

IAF Sukhoi Su-30MKI successfully test-fires Astra BVR Air-to-Air missile pic.twitter.com/8X1HkZhnud

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The Astra missile is an indigenously developed sophisticated Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) has been developed by DRDO, with Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) as the lead laboratory. The (BVRAAM) technology enables fighter-pilots to shoot precisely at the enemy targets which are beyond their visual range.

In a press release, the Defence Ministry said, “The live aerial target was engaged accurately demonstrating the capability of first indigenous air-to-air missile. The mission profile was executed in a textbook manner. Various Radars, Electro-Optical Tracking System (EOTS) and Sensors tracked the missile and confirmed its engagement with the target.”

As reported by sources to FE, the Astra missile can hit the target with a speed of over 5,500 km per hour or 4.5 mach and can carry a payload/warhead of 15 kg. Astra missile has been described as the most potent weapon system for IAF’s combat aircraft.

Astra is extremely effective in a multi-target scenario. Another important feature of Astra missile is that it has an option to choose between “Lock on Before Launch – LOBL” and “Lock on After Launch – LOAL”. This option helps the pilot to safely shoot and escape after launching the missile towards the target.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated Air Force and the DRDO teams for Astra’s successful test.

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