India successfully test fired for the second consecutive day today the indigenously developed ballistic Astra missile from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Orissa.The 3.8-metre long missile having a diameter of 178 mm with an overall launch weight of 160 kg can intercept and destroy enemy aircraft in a head-on mode in a range of 80 km and on tail- chase mode in a range of 20 km.
The beyond-visual-range air-to air missile was launched exactly at 10.32 am, Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) said in a statement.
The missile would be integrated with fighter aircraft Su-30 MKI, MiG-29 and Light Combat Aircraft Tejas after subjecting it to rigorous and flawless tests both from ground and fighter jets, said a scientist associated with the project.
Astra, developed indigenously by the Indian scientists, is more advanced than the similar class of missiles of the U.S., Russia and France and can carry a conventional warhead of 15 kg.
