DRDO is planning captive flight tests of its Astra medium range active air-to-air missile later this month using a Su-30MKI aircraft. Photo Credit: DRDOOctober 18, 2009, (Sawf News) - DRDO is planning captive flight tests of its Astra medium range active air-to-air missile later this month using a Su-30MKI 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-30MKI and test-fired by October 2010.
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.
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.
So far the missile has only been test launched from the ground at imaginary targets. Going by the past progress and the complexity of missile development and testing, it is unlikely Astra will become operational before another five years.
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