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Air-to-air missile Astra successfully test-fired

tvsram1992

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May 20, 2011
Orissa : Chandipur :Air-to-air missile Astra successfully test-fired

The Air-to-air Astra missile is likely to test- fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur. The test is reportedly scheduled for the next two days subject to weather conditions.

The active radar homing missile is envisaged to intercept and destroy enemy aircraft at supersonic speed in head-on mode, at a range of 80 km and in tail-chase mode at 20 km.

The smallest of the missiles developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, Astra is a single stage, solid-fuelled missile and can carry a conventional warhead of 15 kg. The Beyond Visual Range missile is 3.8 metre long and has a diameter of 178 mm with an overall launch weight of 160 kg. The missile could be launched from different altitudes - at 15 km to cover a range of 90-110 km, at 8 km to cover a range of 44 km and at sea-level for a range of 21 km.


The missile was fired just now. The test was successful.
 
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Balasore: India on Friday carried out the ballistic flight test of Astra -- Beyond-Visual-Range Air-to-Air Missile -- from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur.

The missile was fired around 0950 hours, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) sources said, adding two more tests are likely to be conducted in the next two days.

The missile is envisaged to intercept and destroy enemy aircraft at supersonic speeds in the head-on mode at a range of 80 km and in tail-chase mode at 20 km.

"The main purpose of today's trial is to gauge the performance of the motor, propulsion system and the configurations of the vehicle and aero-dynamics evaluation," said a DRDO scientist.



The data is being analysed by the scientists to ascertain the outcome of the trial.

The missile, after its final trials, would be integrated with fighter aircraft Su-30 MKI. Astra missiles would also be carried by MiG-29 and Light Combat Aircraft Tejas.

Astra, which uses solid propellant, can carry a conventional warhead of 15 kg. It is the smallest of the missiles developed by the DRDO in terms of size and weight.

It is 3.8-metre long and has a diameter of 178 mm with an overall launch weight of 160 kg. The missile could be launched from different altitudes. It can cover 110 km when launched from an altitude of 15 km, 44 km when fired from an altitude of eight km and 21 km when the altitude is sea-level.

DRDO officials said it is more advanced than the similar class of missiles of the US, Russia and France. The missile’s captive flight tests from Su-30MKI were carried out near Pune in November 2009 when seven sorties were conducted.

Astra’s first flight trial took place on May 9, 2003 from the ITR at Chandipur.
 
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Make that 2014...

No astra will be ready asap. We are waiting for the final trials.Astra’s first flight trial took place on May 9, 2003 from the ITR at Chandipur.
So 11 years seem some thing wrong , by this time astra must be developed fully and they are evaluating results.
 
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No astra will be ready asap. We are waiting for the final trials.Astra’s first flight trial took place on May 9, 2003 from the ITR at Chandipur.
So 11 years seem some thing wrong , by this time astra must be developed fully and they are evaluating results.

That's because IAF has set 'unrealistic' requirements for ASTRA which even western missiles don't match. Reality is, IAF doesn't want ASTRA to be successful.

One of IAF's requirement - ASTRA must be able to intercept a supersonic missile.

China is far smarter. They set low aims first, and inducted huge JF-17, J-20 and gave chance for local talent to grow and gain experience and SCALE. And, now they are in second phase where they are moving onto futuristic designs with higher aims.

IAF is still stuck with mentality of "we want 80KN on Kaveri or we won't induct LCA". Same with Trishul, project closed after it was successful after so long and contract transferred to foreign companies.
 
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IAF is quite comfortable with imports. I don't think they will induct ASTRA even if it achieved those 'unrealistic' dreamland requirements of IAF.

In meanwhile, respect to DRDO for keeping the program alive. :tup:
 
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IAF is quite comfortable with imports. I don't think they will induct ASTRA even if it achieved those 'unrealistic' dreamland requirements of IAF.

In meanwhile, respect to DRDO for keeping the program alive. :tup:

DRDO won't give kickbacks !!
 
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