<p>The missile was fired around 0950 hours, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) sources said, adding two more tests are likely to be conducted in the next two days.<br /><br />The missile is envisaged to intercept and destroy enemy aircraft at supersonic speeds in the head-on mode at a range of 80 km and in tail-chase mode at 20 km.<br /><br />"The main purpose of today's trial is to gauge the performance of the motor, propulsion system and the configurations of the vehicle and aero-dynamics evaluation," said a DRDO scientist.<br /><br />The data is being analysed by the scientists to ascertain the outcome of the trial.<br />The missile, after its final trials, would be integrated with fighter aircraft Su-30 MKI. Astra missiles would also be carried by MiG-29 and Light Combat Aircraft Tejas.<br /><br />Astra, which uses solid propellant, can carry a conventional warhead of 15 kg. It is the smallest of the missiles developed by the DRDO in terms of size and weight.<br /><br />It 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 — it can cover 110 km when launched from an altitude of 15 km, 44 km when fired from an altitude of eight km and 21 km when the altitude is sea-level.<br /><br />DRDO officials said it is more advanced than the similar class of missiles of the US, Russia and France. The missile’s captive flight tests from Su-30MKI were carried out near Pune in November 2009 when seven sorties were conducted.<br /><br />Astra’s first flight trial took place on May 9, 2003 from the ITR at Chandipur.</p>
<p>The missile was fired around 0950 hours, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) sources said, adding two more tests are likely to be conducted in the next two days.<br /><br />The missile is envisaged to intercept and destroy enemy aircraft at supersonic speeds in the head-on mode at a range of 80 km and in tail-chase mode at 20 km.<br /><br />"The main purpose of today's trial is to gauge the performance of the motor, propulsion system and the configurations of the vehicle and aero-dynamics evaluation," said a DRDO scientist.<br /><br />The data is being analysed by the scientists to ascertain the outcome of the trial.<br />The missile, after its final trials, would be integrated with fighter aircraft Su-30 MKI. Astra missiles would also be carried by MiG-29 and Light Combat Aircraft Tejas.<br /><br />Astra, which uses solid propellant, can carry a conventional warhead of 15 kg. It is the smallest of the missiles developed by the DRDO in terms of size and weight.<br /><br />It 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 — it can cover 110 km when launched from an altitude of 15 km, 44 km when fired from an altitude of eight km and 21 km when the altitude is sea-level.<br /><br />DRDO officials said it is more advanced than the similar class of missiles of the US, Russia and France. The missile’s captive flight tests from Su-30MKI were carried out near Pune in November 2009 when seven sorties were conducted.<br /><br />Astra’s first flight trial took place on May 9, 2003 from the ITR at Chandipur.</p>