The indigenously developed air-to-air missile ‘Astra’ 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, ‘Astra’ is an advanced missile capable of engaging targets over 80 km away. The sources said today’s experiment’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.
