Astra missile

Astrais an active radar homing Beyond visual range air to air missile (BVRAAM) or a so called Beyond Visual Range missile developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO), India. This is the first air-to-air missile developed by India; an advanced missile that enables fighter pilots to lock-on and shoot down enemy aircraft 80 km away.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing this advanced beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) to arm the Indian Air Force's Mirage 2000H, MiG-29, Sea Harrier, Su-30MKI, MiG-21 Bison and HAL Tejas fighter aircraft. Astra looks like an elongated Matra Super 530. It uses an in-house developed solid fuel propellant, though DRDO is believed to be looking at rocket/ramjet propulsion similar to that used in its Akash Surface to air missile project. This missile was successfully tested without control and guidance systems on May 9 to May 12, 2003. The missile was again successfully tested on 25 March 2007On 27 March the vertical launch of the missile was carried out suggesting the use of the missile as a long range surface to air missile for the Indian Navy to arm its destroyers and frigates and for the Indian Air Force