In News:

The Astra missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is India’s first indigenous Beyond-Visual-Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM). Recently, the Indian Air Force (IAF) and DRDO successfully flight-tested the missile from a Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jet off the coast of Odisha.

Key Features:

• Range: Over 100 km, enabling engagement of distant aerial targets.
• Speed: Capable of flying at speeds exceeding Mach 4.
• Operational Ceiling: Effective up to 20 km altitude.
• Seeker: Equipped with a fully indigenous Radio Frequency (RF) Seeker, enhancing precision targeting.
• Guidance System: State-of-the-art navigation and guidance technologies ensure high accuracy.
• All-weather Capability: Operable in day and night across diverse weather conditions.

Recent Tests:

• Conducted against high-speed unmanned aerial targets at varying ranges and conditions.
• Achieved pinpoint accuracy in both launches.
• All subsystems, including the RF seeker and tracking systems, functioned flawlessly.
• Tests were conducted at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur.

Strategic Significance:

• Boosts India’s air-to-air combat capability.
• Reduces dependency on foreign missile systems.
• Supports the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence technology.
• Over 50 Indian public and private sector industries, including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), contributed to its development.