Balasore: For the second time, indigenously developed air-to-air missile Astra was test-fired successfully off the Balasore coast at 10.01 am Wednesday.
The state-of-the-art missile was launched from a Sukhoi-30 MKI from Kuleikunda airbase while short range Missile Bansi was launched from ITR’s launchpad-3.
Astra had successfully hit its target Bansi, sources said. “The live aerial target was engaged accurately demonstrating the capability of the first indigenous air-to-air missile,” it said.
Notably, Astra was successfully testfired Monday.
Noting that the mission profile was executed in a textbook manner, DRDO sources said various radars, Electro-Optical Tracking System (EOTS) and sensors tracked the missile and confirmed its engagement with the target.
Designed by the DRDO, the beyond visual range Astra missile is capable of engaging targets of different ranges and altitudes, defence sources said.
The sophisticated missile, which has a strike range of over 70 kilometres, can fly towards the target at a speed of over 5,555 km per hour, they said.
The missile has a 15-kilogramme high-explosive pre-fragmented warhead, the sources added.
PNN
