2019 – Posted in: Daily News – Tags: DRDO

ASTRA MISSILE

For: Preliminary

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Indigenously designed air-to-air missile Astra was successfully test-fired from the Bay of Bengal off the coast of Odisha.

The beyond-visual-range missile was launched from a Sukhoi-30 MKI as a part of user trials.

Astra is designed by the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO).
The Astra missile is developed as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) of the Indian Ministry of Defence.

The highly agile, accurate and reliable missile features high single-shot kill probability (SSKP) and is capable of operating under all weather conditions.
Astra is capable of engaging targets of different ranges and altitudes, including long-range as well as short-range targets.
Its low all-up weight provides high launch range capability and the system’s airborne launcher can be used with different fighter aircraft.
The electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM) feature improves the missile’s target tracking capability by reducing the effect of electronic countermeasures of the enemy targets in jamming environments.
The dual-mode guidance consists of an upgraded mid-course internal and active radar terminal homing systems. It allows the Astra BVR missile to locate and track targets at different altitudes.
A radio proximity fuse (RPF) developed by HAL activates the warhead.
The weapon system is equipped with a high-explosive pre-fragmented warhead that weighs 15kg.
The Astra BVR air-to-air missile is powered by a smokeless, single stage, solid fuel propulsion system.
It can intercept and destroy enemy targets with a launch speed between Mach 0.4 and Mach 2.
Launch range and launch altitudes of the weapon system are 80km and 20km respectively. The missile can achieve 40 g turns near sea level while engaging a moving target.