The Air-to-air Astra missile is likely to test- fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur. The test is reportedly scheduled for the next two days subject to weather conditions. The active radar homing missile is envisaged to intercept and destroy enemy aircraft at supersonic speed in head-on mode, at a range of 80 km and in tail-chase mode at 20 km.
The smallest of the missiles developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, Astra is a single stage, solid-fuelled missile and can carry a conventional warhead of 15 kg. The Beyond Visual Range missile is 3.8 metre long and has a diameter of 178 mm with an overall launch weight of 160 kg. The missile could be launched from different altitudes - at 15 km to cover a range of 90-110 km, at 8 km to cover a range of 44 km and at sea-level for a range of 21 km.
