India has successfully test fired Astra, the indigenously missile from Sukhoi-30 MKI Fighter Jet in Chandipur, Odisha. The missile was fired in two developmental trials to prove its long range capability.
- In the Initial trial- the missile was released when the fighter jet was performing a very high-g manoeuvre.
- In the second trial-it was fired when the manoeuvre was higher than in the first exercise.
These tests serves as the part of seven developmental trials of the missile. The missile is expected to be inducted in the Indian Army by 2016.
About Astra missile
- Missile was developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and it is the smallest weapon systems developed by it.
- Single stage solid fuelled and has payload capacity of 15 kg of conventional explosives.
- It is air-to-air beyond-visual-range (BVR).
- Capable of engaging and destroying highly maneuverable supersonic aerial targets and destroy enemy aircraft at great speed of 1.2 Mach to 1.4 Mach.
- It should be noted that it is radar homing missile- It can engage targets in head-on up to 80 km and tail-chase up to 20 km modes.
- It can touch the height of to 110 km when fired from an altitude of 15 km and 44 km when launched from an altitude of 8 km and 21 km when fired from sea level.
- The missile can be integrated with fighter aircraft including Sukhoi-30 MKI, Mirage-2000, MiG-29, Jaguar and the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).
Features:
- Weight: 154 kg
- Length: 3570 mm
- Diameter : 178 mm
- Wingspan: 15 kg (33 lb)
About DRDO
- It is an agency, responsible for the development of technology for use by the military.
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Formed: 1958
- It is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
Related Questions:
- Who is the Present Defence Minister of India? (Manohar Parrikar).
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