Insta
Astra air-to-air missile test-fired from IAF’s Su-30 MKI.
India’s indigenous Astra air-to-air missile, which has a range of around 100 kilometers, will soon be test-fired from Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).
The process of integrating India’s first indigenous air-to-air missile on the home-grown fighter jet has been completed. The “initial ground trials” with the missile and the fighter are also complete, reports say.
The “flight trials” will begin “within the next few months”, says a report in the Times of India on Sunday (22 November), quoting sources.
Astra Mark-1 has already been tested from the Su-30 MKI fighters if the IAF.
The Defence Acquisition Council, led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, gave a go-ahead for the purchase of 288 Astras in July this year.
“Large-scale orders” are likely to be placed by the Indian Air Force after the tests of the missile from LCA Tejas are complete, the source added.
While the Mark-1 version of the missile reaches closer to large-scale production, its Mark-2 version is being prepared for testing.
The testing of the Mark-2 version of Astra, which has a range of around 160 km, may being in the first half of the next year, the report says.
The DRDO is also planning to begin working on the Mark-3 version of Astra, which will have a range of around 350 kilometers.
Support Swarajya's 50 Ground Reports Project & Sponsor A Story
Every general election Swarajya does a 50 ground reports project.
Aimed only at serious readers and those who appreciate the nuances of political undercurrents, the project provides a sense of India's electoral landscape. As you know, these reports are produced after considerable investment of travel, time and effort on the ground.
This time too we've kicked off the project in style and have covered over 30 constituencies already. If you're someone who appreciates such work and have enjoyed our coverage please consider sponsoring a ground report for just Rs 2999 to Rs 19,999 - it goes a long way in helping us produce more quality reportage.
You can also back this project by becoming a subscriber for as little as Rs 999 - so do click on this links and choose a plan that suits you and back us.
Click below to contribute.
Latest