India tests its own air-to-air missile
India successfully test-fired its first indigenously developed air-to-air missile, Astra, from a Sukhoi-30MKI combat jet on Sunday - a much-delayed milestone on the road to the new weapon’s induction into the IAF’s arsenal.
Astra’s test was part of a series of missile trials lined up by the Directorate of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
A few days ago, India had successfully demonstrated its capability to intercept an incoming hostile ballistic missile.
Astra was test-fired over a naval range in the western sector. It was part of a series of missile trials lined up by the Directorate of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
Scientists are now working on the Nirbhaya subsonic cruise missile, which will be test-fired soon. Its first trial was unsuccessful.
Astra was test-fired at a naval range in the western sector, but it will be some time before it takes on a target.
The first test only entailed firing from the aircraft and defence scientists were satisfied by its performance.
The DRDO is aiming at making Astra one of the mainline weapons for the entire fleet of IAF fighters, ranging from the Sukhois to the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas which is still under development.
This would mean that once proven, the missile will have to be produced in large numbers.
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The road to the first test from an aircraft was not easy. Extensive ground trials took place before the missile was integrated to the aircraft. Astra is being developed in two stages.
In the first phase, the missile will have a range of around 40 km and this will eventually be extended to 100 km in the next phase.
“The test firing met all the mission objectives and the air launch was captured by side and forward looking high speed cameras.
The separation was exactly as per simulation,” DRDO said in a statement.
Astra will undergo a series of trials now as the development process moves towards using the missile to destroy a target.
The new missile has high single shot kill probability, which enhances its accuracy.
The DRDO said it is an advanced missile which can be fired in all weather conditions.
It has features like active radar terminal guidance, electronic counter-countermeasures and smokeless propulsion.
The success of the trial assumes significance as scientists managed to overcome serious design issues, which made it difficult to control the missile.
After Astra, all eyes are now on the test of the Nirbhaya subsonic cruise missile.
The long-range missile was first fired last year, but it had to be destroyed mid-course after it deviated from the designated path.
Though the trial was described as unsuccessful, the DRDO explained it as a partial success. The missile lifted off as planned and crossed designated way points on the way to the target.
