Indigenously built air-to-air missile 'Astra' test-fired - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

India on Monday successfully test fired two indigenously built air-to-air missile 'Astra' from its Integrated Test Range (ITR) off the Orissa coast. The first missile, around 25-kilometer range was tested at the Chandipur test range around 9:45 a.m. ITR Director SP Shah claimed the missile test was a success. The Astra missile is 3.8 meter long having a diameter of 1.78 meter and weighs around 154 kilograms. The missile can carry a warhead of 15 kg. The single-stage solid fuel Astra missile is said to be more advanced in its category in comparison to the contemporary Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles. It is capable of engaging and destroying highly maneuverable supersonic aerial targets. The senior officials of Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) and various other Defence officials were present during the missile test.