India Test-fires Astra BVR Air-to-Air missile from Su-30MKI Jet

India test-fired Astra Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air missile equipped on a Su-30MKI fighter jet that took off from an airbase in eastern Indian state of West Bengal, on Tuesday.

The Astra missile, which can fly towards its target at a speed of over 5,555 kilometres per hour (4.5 Mach) with a 15 kg high-explosive pre-fragmented warhead, was test-fired under the guidance of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

The Astra missiles are equipped with mid-course inertial guidance and terminal active radar homing. They are capable of targeting the enemy aircraft or missiles at short-range (20 km) as well as at BVR (over 70 km).

"The live aerial target was engaged accurately demonstrating the capability of first indigenous air-to-air missile. The mission profile was executed in a text book manner. Various Radars, Electro-Optical Tracking System (EOTS) and Sensors tracked the missile and confirmed its engagement with target. Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO and Air Force teams for the successful test," the Defence Ministry said in a press release.

Earlier today, a DRDO-made Rustom-II medium-altitude long-endurance reconnaissance drone crashed during flight tests.