India's Astra Missile Successfully Test-Fired: A Leap in Indigenous Defence Technology

Successful Test-Firing of Astra Missile
New Delhi/Balasore: On Friday, India successfully conducted a test of the Astra beyond visual range air-to-air missile from a Su-30 Mk-I aircraft off the Odisha coast, showcasing its self-reliant defence capabilities.
The Astra missile boasts a range of over 100 kilometers and features advanced guidance and navigation systems, according to officials.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) executed the flight test of the indigenous missile, which is equipped with a homegrown radio frequency seeker from the Su-30 Mk-I platform.
During the testing phase, two launches were performed against high-speed unmanned aerial targets under varying conditions, including different ranges and launch platform scenarios.
In both instances, the missiles successfully hit their targets with remarkable precision, as stated by the defence ministry.
All subsystems functioned as anticipated, including the radio frequency seeker, which was designed and developed domestically by the DRDO.
The successful performance of the Astra weapon system was confirmed through flight data collected by tracking instruments at the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur.
These successful tests reaffirmed the accuracy and dependable performance of the Astra system with its indigenous seeker. The development involved contributions from over 50 public and private sectors, including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised the DRDO, IAF, and industry partners for their roles in designing and developing the radio frequency seeker.
He noted that the successful testing of the missile with its indigenous seeker marks a significant achievement in crucial defence technology.