Indian Air Force successfully flight tests air-to-air Astra missile from Sukhoi-30 MKI
Astra is an indigenous Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Astra missile with a range of over 70 kms. It was successfully test-fired by IAF Sukhoi jet on Monday.
In Short
- IAF's Sukhoi-30 jet successfully test-fired air-to-air Astra missile
- The Astra is an indigenous Beyond Visual Range missile with a 70km range
- It has been developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation
Indian Air Force on Monday successfully flight-tested air-to-air missile Astra off the coast of Odisha.
The missile was launched from Su-30 MKI as a part of User trials. "The live aerial target was engaged accurately demonstrating the capability of the first indigenous air-to-air missile," the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.
The statement confirmed that 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," the defence statement said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO and Air Force teams for the successful test.
VIDEO: Today’s Astra beyond visual range air-to-air missile user flight test by the IAF from a Su-30 MKI. pic.twitter.com/q9vMF3Y2M9 Livefist (@livefist) September 17, 2019
Astra missile
Astra is an indigenous Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Astra missile with a range of over 70 km. The missile can fly towards its target at a speed of over 5,555 kilometres per hour. It has a 15-kilogramme high-explosive pre-fragmented warhead.
The Astra missile has been developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation along with 50 other public and private organisations, involved at various stages of its development. Modifications of the Sukhoi-30 MKI jets to accommodate Astra missiles has been carried out by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).