Astra Missile : In News
The DRDO and Indian Air Force (IAF) has successfully test-fired the indigenous Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) ‘Astra’ with an indigenously developed Radio Frequency (RF) Seeker from a Su-30 Mk-I fighter aircraft off the coast of Odisha.
BVRAAM Astra:
- Astra is India’s first indigenous BVRAAM, designed to target enemy aircraft beyond line-of-sight.
- It is equipped with a DRDO-developed indigenous Radio Frequency (RF) Seeker, which enables the missile to detect, track, and lock onto targets using radar, ensuring high accuracy in the terminal phase.
- Astra is India’s first indigenous BVRAAM, capable of engaging supersonic, manoeuvrable targets beyond 100 km and up to 20 km altitude.
- Uses inertial navigation, mid-course data link updates, and active radar homing, with a smokeless solid-fuel engine for enhanced stealth.
- Equipped with a DRDO-developed active RF seeker, enabling fire-and-forget and buddy launch mode, where one aircraft launches and another guides.
