India Achieves Milestone with Successful Test-Firing of ASTRA Missile from Tejas LCA AF MK1
New Delhi: In a boost to India’s defense capabilities, the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has successfully conducted the test-launch of the indigenous ASTRA Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) from the Tejas LCA AF MK1 prototype fighter aircraft.
The ASTRA missile, designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is capable of engaging targets over 100 km and features advanced guidance and navigation capabilities, enabling precise destruction of targets.
The test-firing, which took place off the coast of Chandipur, Odisha, demonstrated the missile’s capability to directly hit a flying target. All subsystems performed accurately, meeting all mission parameters and objectives.
This achievement marks a significant milestone towards the induction of the LCA AF MK1A variant and underscores India’s progress in developing cutting-edge military technology. The success is a testament to the collaborative efforts of scientists, engineers, and technicians from ADA, DRDO, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and other supporting organizations.
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh congratulated the teams involved in the trial, while Secretary, Department of Defence R&D, and Chairman DRDO Dr. Samir V Kamat appreciated the efforts of the scientists, engineers, and technicians from various organizations and industries. Further trials are planned to evaluate the performance of the ASTRA missile.
