The DRDO-developed ASTRA air-to-air missile (AAM) was test-fired successfully on Wednesday, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said, adding that the exercise, conducted off the coast of Goa, resulted in a launch that was ‘text book perfect.’ ASTRA, an indigenous Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile, being test fired by Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) LSP-7 at an altitude of about 20,000 ft off the coast of Goa, Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. (PTI Photo)

The Beyond Visual Range (BVR) weapon was fired by the Tejas, an indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), the MoD noted in a press release.

“Tejas, LCA LSP-7 successfully fired the ASTRA missile at an altitude of about 20,000 feet. All the objectives of the test were met,” the ministry stated in its release.

The test launch, the MoD said, was monitored by officials from the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and others.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh, as well as Secretary of Defence, and Chairman, DRDO, have congratulated the teams for the successful launch, the released said.

ASTRA

According to DRDO, the missile system is designed to be mounted on a fighter aircraft, and engages and destroys ‘highly manoeuvring supersonic’ aircraft. Built to function across weather conditions, and during both day and night, the system is being developed to meet ‘specific requirements,’ as per the agency.

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