India successfully test fires Astra interceptor missile again in Orissa
BALASORE (ORISSA): For the second time in two days, India today successfully test fired indigenously developed air-to-air Astra interceptor missile with an 80 km range from Chandipur in Orissa.
Developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Beyond-Visual-Range Air-to-Air missile was test-fired yesterday also to study the modifications incorporated in its main frame and flight systems.
"The missile was test-fired around 1032 hrs from the Integrated Test Range and the trial was successful," Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) sources said.
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 missile is on developmental stage and we are yet to check all of its performance parameters before conducting the user trials. More such tests are scheduled to take place. Necessary modifications are made after every test ," DRDO officials said in Delhi.
Every time a development test-fire takes place the missile is checked against few pre-decided coordinates and parameters which helps in improving its performance. The results are further evaluated to make it perfect, the officials added.
Yesterday, the missile was test-fired at around 0950 hours, to gauge performance of its motor, propulsion system and the configurations of the vehicle and aero-dynamics performance.
"The complete evaluation of all the parameters and coordinates may take some time as few more tests are expected," said the officials.
Following a series of successful tests, the missile would be user-tested to suit the requirement of air-dominance fighter jets like Su-30 MKI, MiG-29 and Light Combat Aircraft Tejas in the inventory of Indian Air Force ( IAF )).
Based on solid propellant, Astra can carry a conventional warhead of 15 kg. It is one of the smallest 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.
With its state-of-art technology, the missile's reach in air can be extended when it is fired 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 at 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-30 MKI were carried out near Pune in November 2009 when seven sorties were conducted.
"Before the sophisticated anti air-craft missile would be integrated with fighter aircraft like Su-30 MKI, MiG-29 and Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, it would undergo some rigorous and flawless tests both from ground and fighter jets," said a scientist associated with the project.
Astra's first flight trial took place on May 9, 2003 from the ITR at Chandipur.
India successfully test fires Astra interceptor missile again in Orissa - The Economic Times
BALASORE (ORISSA): For the second time in two days, India today successfully test fired indigenously developed air-to-air Astra interceptor missile with an 80 km range from Chandipur in Orissa.
Developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Beyond-Visual-Range Air-to-Air missile was test-fired yesterday also to study the modifications incorporated in its main frame and flight systems.
"The missile was test-fired around 1032 hrs from the Integrated Test Range and the trial was successful," Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) sources said.
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 missile is on developmental stage and we are yet to check all of its performance parameters before conducting the user trials. More such tests are scheduled to take place. Necessary modifications are made after every test ," DRDO officials said in Delhi.
Every time a development test-fire takes place the missile is checked against few pre-decided coordinates and parameters which helps in improving its performance. The results are further evaluated to make it perfect, the officials added.
Yesterday, the missile was test-fired at around 0950 hours, to gauge performance of its motor, propulsion system and the configurations of the vehicle and aero-dynamics performance.
"The complete evaluation of all the parameters and coordinates may take some time as few more tests are expected," said the officials.
Following a series of successful tests, the missile would be user-tested to suit the requirement of air-dominance fighter jets like Su-30 MKI, MiG-29 and Light Combat Aircraft Tejas in the inventory of Indian Air Force ( IAF )).
Based on solid propellant, Astra can carry a conventional warhead of 15 kg. It is one of the smallest 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.
With its state-of-art technology, the missile's reach in air can be extended when it is fired 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 at 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-30 MKI were carried out near Pune in November 2009 when seven sorties were conducted.
"Before the sophisticated anti air-craft missile would be integrated with fighter aircraft like Su-30 MKI, MiG-29 and Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, it would undergo some rigorous and flawless tests both from ground and fighter jets," said a scientist associated with the project.
Astra's first flight trial took place on May 9, 2003 from the ITR at Chandipur.
India successfully test fires Astra interceptor missile again in Orissa - The Economic Times
