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.

Specifications

• 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.