For the first time, Made-in-India Astra missile test-fired from LCA Tejas

NewsBharati 23-Aug-2023 16:52:11 PM

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New Delhi, Aug 23: In a huge development, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has successfully tested the indigenously developed Astra Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air (BVRAAM) missile from a Light Combat Aircraft Tejas fighter aircraft for the first time.

The test was conducted using the Tejas Limited Series Production-7 (LSP-7) aircraft off Goa coast. Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, the missile has a range of over 100 kilometers.

In the past, the Astra missiles were tested from a Su-30 MKI fighter.

Aatmanirbhar Bharat Is Unstoppable! 💪🇮🇳

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has successfully test-fired the indigenous Astra Mk-1 Beyond Visual Range Air-To-Air Missile from the indigenous LCA Tejas Fighter Aircraft.

Led by Honourable PM Shri @narendramodi Ji’s leadership, India's… pic.twitter.com/djNhMwQjzj
— Col Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) August 23, 2023

The Defence Ministry has already ordered 248 Astra Mk-1 missiles — 200 for the Indian Air Force and 48 for the Indian Navy. They are also working on a new long-range variant of the missile.

Astra Mark-II will have improved jammer resistance and an indigenous seeker. The missile could be equipped with a dual-pulse rocket motor to improve the range and performance. India is also working on Astra Mk-III, which will have a range of over 300 km. The missile will have solid fuel-based ducted ramjet (SFDR) propulsion.