Bhubaneswar: India has successfully conducted test launch of homegrown air-to-air missile Astra from indigenously-built Tejas light combat aircraft off the coast of Chandipur in Odisha.
The Ministry of Defence said that the test launch was carried out on March 12 by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), which demonstrated the direct hit of the missile on flying target. All the subsystems performed accurately meeting all mission parameters and objectives. “The successful test-firing is a significant milestone towards the induction of LCA AF MK1A variant,” the statement added.
ASTRA missile has been designed and developed by DRDO. It is capable of engaging targets over 100km. The missile is equipped with advanced guidance and navigation systems that allow it to destroy targets with greater accuracy. It has been already inducted into the Indian Air Force.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has congratulated the teams of DRDO, IAF, ADA, HAL and all involved in the trial. Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Samir V Kamat also appreciated the efforts of scientists, engineers and technicians from various organisations and industry.
