Indian Astra Air-to-Air Missile Test Fired

The Air-to-air Astra missile is likely to test- fired from the
Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur. The test is reportedly scheduled
for the next two days subject to weather conditions.


The active radar homing missile is envisaged to intercept and destroy
enemy aircraft at supersonic speed in head-on mode, at a range of 80 km
and in tail-chase mode at 20 km.


The smallest of the missiles developed by the Defence Research and
Development Organisation, Astra is a single stage, solid-fuelled missile
and can carry a conventional warhead of 15 kg. The Beyond Visual Range
missile is 3.8 metre long and has a diameter of 178 mm with an overall
launch weight of 160 kg. The missile could be launched from different
altitudes - at 15 km to cover a range of 90-110 km, at 8 km to cover a
range of 44 km and at sea-level for a range of 21 km.