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India successfully test-fires air-to-air missile Astra

The beyond-visual-range missile was launched from Sukhoi-30 MKI as a part of user trials.

India successfully test-fires air-to-air missile Astra

Odisha: Air-to-Air missile Astra has been successfully flight tested off the coast of Odisha, on Sep 17, 2019. The missile was launched today from Su-30 MKI as a part of User trials. The live aerial target was engaged accurately demonstrating the capability of first indigenous air-to-air missile. (Photo: IANS/DPRO)

India’s indigenously designed air-to-air missile Astra was successfully test-fired from the Bay of Bengal off the coast of Odisha, the DRDO said on Tuesday.

The beyond-visual-range missile was launched from Sukhoi-30 MKI as a part of user trials.

A defence official said as part of the trial, the live aerial target was engaged accurately demonstrating the capability of the first indigenous air-to-air missile.

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“The mission profile was executed in a text book manner,” said an official.

Various radars, electro-optical tracking system and sensors tracked the missile and confirmed its engagement with the target.

Astra has been designed by the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), the premier research and development organisation of the armed forces in the country.

The Astra is capable of engaging targets of different ranges and altitudes including long-range as well as short-range targets.

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