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DRDO readies for
DRDO readies for Astra test
By Express News Service - BALASORE 21st December 2012 12:30 PM
DRDO scientists are likely to carry out a series of trials of indigenously developed beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile Astra from ground launcher at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) off the Odisha coast on Friday.
The anti-aircraft missile, considered one of the best of its kind in the world, will be tested for three consecutive days. Altogether three rounds of the missile have reportedly been planned for test-fire. A defence official said, the launching platform has been readied and works like assembling the missile and range integration completed.
The scientists are focusing on the successful trials this time as last year two coordinated trials ended in failure. While on May 20 the missile had fallen immediately after it took off from the ground launcher, on May 21 it instead of travelling on its trajectory broke into pieces mid-air and fell into the sea.
Defence sources said after the ground tests, captive flight trials of the missile will be conducted using a Su-30MKI aircraft. The captive trials are expected to establish the compatibility of the missiles electronics with the Su-30MKI avionics.
The single stage, solid fuelled Astra missile is more advanced in its category than the contemporary BVR missiles and is capable of engaging and destroying highly manoeuvrable supersonic aerial targets.
The 3.8-metre long missile, which has a diametre of 178 mm, can carry about 15 kg of high-explosive warhead, activated by a proximity fuse and be fitted to any fighter aircraft.
Astra is a futuristic missile and can intercept the target at Mach 1.2 to 1.4.
DRDO readies for Astra test
By Express News Service - BALASORE 21st December 2012 12:30 PM
DRDO scientists are likely to carry out a series of trials of indigenously developed beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile Astra from ground launcher at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) off the Odisha coast on Friday.
The anti-aircraft missile, considered one of the best of its kind in the world, will be tested for three consecutive days. Altogether three rounds of the missile have reportedly been planned for test-fire. A defence official said, the launching platform has been readied and works like assembling the missile and range integration completed.
The scientists are focusing on the successful trials this time as last year two coordinated trials ended in failure. While on May 20 the missile had fallen immediately after it took off from the ground launcher, on May 21 it instead of travelling on its trajectory broke into pieces mid-air and fell into the sea.
Defence sources said after the ground tests, captive flight trials of the missile will be conducted using a Su-30MKI aircraft. The captive trials are expected to establish the compatibility of the missiles electronics with the Su-30MKI avionics.
The single stage, solid fuelled Astra missile is more advanced in its category than the contemporary BVR missiles and is capable of engaging and destroying highly manoeuvrable supersonic aerial targets.
The 3.8-metre long missile, which has a diametre of 178 mm, can carry about 15 kg of high-explosive warhead, activated by a proximity fuse and be fitted to any fighter aircraft.
Astra is a futuristic missile and can intercept the target at Mach 1.2 to 1.4.
