What is the News ?

The Light Combat Aircraft(LCA) Tejas successfully test-fired an ASTRA beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile off the coast of Goa.

Facts About:

• The ASTRA BVR missile is designed to engage and destroy highly maneuvering supersonic aerial targets. It has a range of over 100 kilometers.

                BVR missiles are capable of engaging beyond the range of 20 nautical miles or 37 kilometres.

• This missile has all weather day and night capability. The system is being developed to meet specific requirements.
• It is jointly designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Research Centre Imarat (RCI) and other laboratories of DRDO.
•  ASTRA missile would significantly enhance the combat prowess of Tejas and reduce the dependency on imported weapons.

                   Tejas is a single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft capable of operating in high-threat air environments. It has been designed to undertake the air defence, maritime                                           reconnaissance and strike roles.

• The ASTRA Mk-I Weapon System integrated with SU-30 Mk-I aircraft is being inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF).