Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) announced another successful test of the Astra Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile on Thursday, May 6. Photo Credit: DRDOMay 07, 2009, (Sawf News) - Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) announced another successful test of the Astra Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile on Thursday, May 6.
The missile was launched from the ground at an imaginary target to test its dual mode guidance.
The 154kg (340lb) Astra uses active radar homing and is reportedly capable of engaging targets at 80km in the head on mode and 20km while astern.
The missile has a cruise speed of up to Mach 2.2 carrying a 20kg fragmentation warhead. It has a length of 3570 mm and a diameter of 178 mm.
The missile was first launched on May 9, 2003 from the ITR. Its second and third trials were conducted on May 11 and May 12, 2003 respectively at the same range. These tests were without control and guidance systems.
A second series of developmental flights to test the guidance system of the missile were carried out on March 25, 26 and 29, 2007.
A follow up ground launch of the missile was carried out on September 13, 2008.
Captive flight tests of the missile are planned in 2009 during which the missile will be mated to a launch fighter aircraft. Several maneuvers at different speeds and altitudes would be conducted and the compatibility of electronics, avionics and other systems checked.
After the captive flight tests, the missile would be integrated with the Sukhoi-30 and test-fired by the middle of next year.
DRDO is hopeful of equipping the Tejas and Sukhoi Su-30MKI aircraft with the missile since they have powerful airborne radars to leverage its BVR capability.
Even though the missile is in the early stages of its development, DRDO has drawn up plans to jointly develop a short-range air defense system with MBDA using a vertically launched variant of Astra.
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