DRDO successfully test flighted Astra
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight tested Astra, the Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM). It was launched from Sukhoi Su-30 MKI platform off the coast of Chandipur, Odisha. Indian Air Force (IAF) has completed the user trial phase of the weapon system of Astra successfully.
Built by:
The state-of-the-art BVRAAM was built by DRDO along with IAF. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has modified the aircraft for weapon integration. Apart from this, more than 50 public and private industries have contributed to building the Astra weapon system.
Trial campaign:
Astra BVRAAM is the first air-to-air missile developed by India. The range of the missile is more than 100 kms with modern guidance and navigation techniques. The missile has built in midcourse guidance and Radio Frequency (RF) seeker based terminal guidance to achieve target destruction with pinpoint accuracy. The technologies developed under the programme will be the building blocks for the development of future variants of Air-to-Air and Surface-to-Air Missiles.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight tested Astra, the Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM). It was launched from Sukhoi Su-30 MKI platform off the coast of Chandipur, Odisha. Indian Air Force (IAF) has completed the user trial phase of the weapon system of Astra successfully.
Built by:
The state-of-the-art BVRAAM was built by DRDO along with IAF. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has modified the aircraft for weapon integration. Apart from this, more than 50 public and private industries have contributed to building the Astra weapon system.
Trial campaign:
- The trial tests were held from 16th to 19th September 2019.
- DRDO conducted 5 trial tests in different configurations.
- 3 missiles were launched in combat configuration with warhead and manoeuvring targets were neutralized to establish the end game capability of the missile.
- A direct hit of the target by the telemetered missile at the maximum range was also successfully tested.
- All the mission parameters and objectives were met as all the subsystems performed accurately as per the specifications.
- As Astra has been successfully induction of the missile system into Indian Air Force, which will certainly be a force multiplier considering its accuracy and effectiveness in neutralizing aerial threats.
Astra BVRAAM is the first air-to-air missile developed by India. The range of the missile is more than 100 kms with modern guidance and navigation techniques. The missile has built in midcourse guidance and Radio Frequency (RF) seeker based terminal guidance to achieve target destruction with pinpoint accuracy. The technologies developed under the programme will be the building blocks for the development of future variants of Air-to-Air and Surface-to-Air Missiles.
