India test fires Astra missile

India's first locally produced beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile has been successfully launched by the Indian Air Force, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., said.

The test was conducted earlier this week using an Astra missile carrying telemetry equipment in place of the warhead. The missile, developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization, was fired from a Sukhoi-30 aircraft against a pilotless target aircraft.

"The successful launch is an important milestone in enhancing the armament capabilities of Su-30MKI aircraft," said Mr. T. Suvarna Raju, chairman of HAL. "HAL played a vital role in this project in designing and developing the modification scheme for integration of the missile with aircraft navigation, aiming and weapon systems.

"HAL has also designed the flight test instrumentation for data acquisition from aircraft sensors and online telemetry of aircraft data for real-time monitoring of aircraft handling qualities."

The Astra is an active radar homing missile with a range of as much as 50 miles.

HAL said the test validated the weapon's capability to conduct flight maneuvers involving very high gravitational forces.

Before Thursday's test the Indian Air Force conducted captive flight tests with the missile, assessing its aerostructural integrity, and its electrical and avionic interfaces.