India successfully test fired on Sunday the Astra air-to-air missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) of Chandipur-on-sea off the Orissa coast for the second time in two days, an official source said.
Defence sources said the beyond visual range air-to-air missile was successfully test fired from a specially designed launcher at 11.47 am.
It was test fired from launching complex number two of the Integrated Test Range, an official of the ITR told IANS.
The state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has completed the control flights of Astra, designed for an 80-km range in head-on mode and 20 km-range in tail-chase mode.
The beyond visual range missile has been integrated with the aircraft Sukhoi-30 MKI and might be integrated with other fighter jets (Mirage 2000 and MiG 29) once all tests are done to verify its accuracy in destroying manoeuvring targets.
The Hyderabad-based Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) took nearly five years to develop the 150-kg tactical missile at an estimated cost of Rs.10 billion under the integrated guided missile development programme of the DRDO.
Possessing such a futuristic weapon will propel India into an elite club of countries such as the US, Russia, France and Israel.
{{/usCountry}}Possessing such a futuristic weapon will propel India into an elite club of countries such as the US, Russia, France and Israel.
{{/usCountry}}The missile was earlier tested Saturday from the same defence base.