IAF, DRDO Successfully Test Third Air-To-Air Astra Missile Near Odisha
The State-of-the-art Missile Was Launched From Sukhoi-30 MKI Off The Coast Of Odisha As Part Of User Trials By The IAF, Said A Statement Released By The Defence Ministry.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested third Astra Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile on Wednesday. The missile hit the live aerial target near Odisha at the maximum range of approximately 90 km. The test was conducted a day after India on Tuesday successfully flight-tested the indigenously developed air-to-air missile Astra that was fired from a fighter aircraft. The state-of-the-art missile was launched from Sukhoi-30 MKI off the coast of Odisha as part of user trials by the IAF, said a statement released by the Defence Ministry.
Designed by the DRDO, the beyond visual range Astra missile is capable of engaging targets of different ranges and altitude, defence sources said. The sophisticated missile has a strike range of over 70 km, they said.
It has a 15-kg high-explosive pre-fragmented warhead, the sources added.
"The live aerial target was engaged accurately demonstrating the capability of first indigenous air-to-air missile," the statement said.
Noting that the mission profile was executed in a textbook manner, it said various radars, Electro-Optical Tracking System (EOTS) and sensors tracked the missile and confirmed its engagement with target.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO and IAF teams for the successful test, the statement said.
For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
More from India
Do You Know....Ambedkar as a Social Scientist?
10th anniversary of Crimea: A Photo Exhibition was organized at the Russian House in New Delhi
GATORADE USES DATA TO UNLOCK URBAN PLAYGROUNDS, WITH THEIR INITIATIVE 'TURF FINDER'
News Nation Network Receives Prestigious Amity Corporate Excellence Award at INBUSH ERA Global Summit
Foreign Ministers of Finland and India Unveil a Logo Marking 75 Years of Diplomatic Ties