Thursday July 8, 2010
On Wednesday, indigenously developed BVR (Beyond Visual Range) air to air missile at Chandipur near Balasore in Orissa, India test-fired ‘Astra’. Defence sources said, at about 2.07 pm, about 15 kms from Balasore, the sophisticated missile was fired from a launcher at the ITR (Integrated Test Range) complex.
For night trial in inclement weather conditions Tuesday night the second consecutive trial comes after the missile was test-fired for the first time. The sources said, the data generated were being thoroughly examined by DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) scientists.
DRDO scientists said, the single stage, solid-fuelled ‘Astra’ is capable of engaging and destroying highly manoeuvrable supersonic aerial targets and is more advanced in its category than the contemporary BVR missiles.
The missile can be fitted to any fighter aircraft and can carry warheads containing explosives weighing 15 kgs. The missile has a diameter of 178 mm and it is 3.8 metre in length. The sources said, it is intended for eventual integration with the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, Jaguar, Mirage-2000, MiG-29, and the IAFs Sukhoi – 30 MKI.
The scientists described ‘Astra’ as a futuristic missile and said the weapon could intercept targets at supersonic speed of mach 1.2 to mach 1.4.
The sources said, “Before being made fully operational, the complex missile system will undergo some more trials, though tests of its navigation, control, air frame, propulsion and other sub-systems have been validated.”
The sources added, the exact range of trial was not disclosed, but the scientists are working to ensure ‘Astra’ performs effectively at varying altitude, like an altitude of 15km with 90 to 110km range, another at an altitude up to 30,000 ft, having a range of 44km and the third at sea level with a range of 25km. The trials of Astra were successful, which were conducted on 11th January of this year, from
