Astra successfully test-fired

The indigenously developed air-to-air missile 8216;Astra8217; was on Thursday successfully test-fired from the Interim Test Range ITR here for the third time in a week. The sleek beyond visual range air-to-air missile BVRAAM soared into clear sky at 11.33 am from a vertical position, Defence sources said, adding the missile met the mission parameters.

A second test planned during the day was postponed. But no reason was given. Astra was tested on March 25 after a gap of nearly four years and then again on the next day. Developed by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory, Hyderabad, 8216;Astra8217; is an advanced missile capable of engaging targets over 80 km away. The sources said today8217;s experiment8217;s thrust was to study the ballistic performance, control and guidance system of the missile at low altitude and shorter range as part of its ongoing development programme. As a precautionary measure, over 6,100 people from six villages located within a radius of 2.5 km of the launch complex at ITR were temporarily evacuated.