ASTRA MISSILE

• ASTRA is a state-of-the-art BVR air-to-air missile to engage and destroy highly manoeuvring supersonic aerial targets.
• It is designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Research Centre Imarat (RCI) and other laboratories of DRDO
• The test launch was monitored by the Test Director and scientists of Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) along with officials from Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) and Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DG-AQA), the statement said, adding that the aircraft was also monitored by a Chase Tejas twin-seater aircraft

• The development of the ASTRA missile program began in the late 1990s as part of India's efforts to enhance its air defense capabilities. The aim was to develop a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile to be used by the Indian Air Force
• The development of the ASTRA missile continued through the 2000s, with an emphasis on research, design, and technology development. The missile was designed to be capable of engaging a variety of aerial threats, including enemy aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
• In 2014, the Indian Air Force conducted a successful test-firing of the ASTRA missile as part of user trials.
• This marked a significant milestone in the missile's development, indicating its readiness for operational use
• The ASTRA missile officially entered service with the Indian Air Force in the 2020s.
• It is designed to be compatible with various fighter aircraft in the Indian Air Force's inventory, including the Su-30MKI, MiG-29, and Tejas

The ASTRA missile can engage targets at BVR distances, which means it can hit enemy aircraft beyond the range of visual identification.

There are different variants of the ASTRA missile, including:

ASTRA Mk-I:

• This is the first operational variant of the ASTRA missile, which is capable of engaging targets at short and beyond-visual-range distances.
• It is designed for use with various aircraft in the IAF's fleet.ASTRA Mk-I is equipped with an active radar homing seeker, allowing it to autonomously track and lock onto its target.
• ASTRA Mk-I is designed for multi-role use, capable of engaging a wide range of aerial threats, including enemy aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

ASTRA Mk-II:

• The Mk-II version of the ASTRA missile is an upgraded variant that offers extended range and improved performance.
• It is designed to provide extended range and improved overall performance compared to the Mk-I variant
• It is expected to be compatible with the same range of aircraft in the IAF's fleet as the Mk-I variant.