ASTRA Missile |ForumIAS

News: DRDO and the IAF successfully conducted flight tests of the Astra missile off the coast of Odisha.

About ASTRA – Indigenous Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile

Astra is an indigenously developed Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) comprising the missile and its launcher.
It has been jointly developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The missile is designed to intercept and eliminate highly maneuverable aerial targets flying at supersonic speeds.

The missile has an operational range of 80 to 110 kilometers.
It can operate at altitudes of up to 20 kilometers.
Astra is 3840 mm in length and has a diameter of 178 mm.
Its flight duration ranges between 100 to 120 seconds.
The missile is equipped with a high-explosive pre-fragmented warhead.
It can travel at speeds up to Mach 4.5.
Astra is powered by a solid rocket motor propulsion system.
It uses a radar proximity fuse for detonation.
The guidance system includes inertial navigation, mid-course updates, and terminal active radar homing with a range of 13 kilometers.
Advanced guidance and navigation systems enable ASTRA to deliver highly accurate strikes.
The missile is launched from the Su-30 MKI aircraft platform.

News:Indian Air Force has successfully flight-tested Astra missile off the coast of Odisha.

Facts:

About Astra missile:

Astra is the indigenously developed Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile(BVRAAM).
The BVRAAM technology enables fighter-pilots to shoot precisely at the enemy targets which are beyond their visual range.
The missile has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The missile has a range of over 70 km.It can fly towards the target at a speed of over 5,555 km per hour.
The missile has a 15-kilogramme high-explosive pre-fragmented warhead and the missile is also capable of engaging targets of different ranges and altitudes.
Further,Astra missile also has some highly advanced features like Electronic Counter-Countermeasures or ECCM.This feature enables Astra missile to overcome defensive measures put forth for the target by the enemy.