Astra Missile Latest News
Recently, the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) & Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully conducted the flight-test of Astra missile.
About Astra Missile
It is an indigenous Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air missile (BVRAAM).
Features of Astra Missile
- It is equipped with indigenous Radio Frequency (RF) Seeker from Su-30 Mk-I.
- It has a range exceeding 100 kms and is equipped with state-of-the art guidance and navigation system.
- In addition to various laboratories of DRDO, more than 50 public and private industries including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited have contributed towards successful realisation of the weapon system.Â
- Targets achieved
- During the tests, two launches were carried out against high-speed unmanned aerial targets at different ranges, target aspects and launch platform conditions.
- In both the cases, the missiles destroyed the targets with pin-point accuracy.
- During the tests, all subsystems performed as per expectations including the RF seeker which has been indigenously designed & developed by DRDO.
- The flawless performance of the Astra weapon system was validated through flight data captured by Range Tracking instruments deployed by Integrated Test Range, Chandipur. These successful flight tests have re-established the accuracy and reliable performance of Astra weapon system with indigenous seeker.
Source: PIB
Astra Missile FAQs
Q1: What is the organizational structure of DRDO?
Ans: DRDO is headed by the Secretary, Department of Defence R and D, who is also the Director General. It has 7 technology clusters manned by Chief Controllers and a network of 50 specialized laboratories across India.
Q2: What is Radio frequency (RF)?
Ans: It is the oscillation rate of an alternating electric current or voltage or of a magnetic, electric or electromagnetic field or mechanical system in the frequency range from around 20 kHz to around 300 GHz.
