India has successfully test-fired its visual range (VR) air-to-air missile Astra from Su-30MKI fighter jet for the third time in two days.
Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) on Wednesday had tested two missiles at very low and very high altitudes while the aircraft was performing High-G maneuvers in separate trials. The third test was conducted on Thursday at the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha was to validate control and guidance and other sub-systems at very high altitude and was the eighth developmental trial.
DRDO is conducting the pre-induction trials to evaluate the supersonic missile’s performance in extreme conditions. The missile is expected to be inducted by the end of next year.
“The anti-aircraft missile climbed to an altitude of 25 km and went to a very long range during a flight of 150 seconds, after it was released from the aircraft at an altitude of 25 km. He said the weapon system was evaluated under extreme conditions,” A DRDO missile technologist was quoted as saying by The Hindu News Daily.
Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) has also successfully tested Astra, air-to-air beyond-visual-range (BVR) missile from Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet in March.