India's ASTRA Missile With 100 Km+ Range Test-Fired From LCA AF MK1, Achieves Direct Hit On Flying Target

The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has successfully conducted a test launch of the indigenous ASTRA Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) from the LCA AF MK1 prototype fighter aircraft.

The test was carried out on Wednesday (12 March) off the coast of Chandipur, Odisha.

The missile successfully hit its flying target, with all subsystems performing accurately, meeting all mission parameters and objectives.

"The test-firing successfully demonstrated the direct hit of the missile on flying target. All the subsystems performed accurately meeting all mission parameters and objectives," Defence Ministry said in a statement.

Designed and developed by DRDO, the ASTRA missile is capable of engaging targets over 100 km distance.

It features advanced guidance and navigation capabilities that allows the missile to destroy targets with greater accuracy. The missile has already been inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The Defence Ministry said that the successful test-firing of ASTRA missile is a significant milestone towards the induction of LCA AF MK1A variant.

Further trials are planned towards the performance evaluation, the ministry added.

Following the successful test, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the teams of DRDO, IAF, ADA, HAL and all involved in the trial.

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