India test fires air-to-air missile Astra

Indigenously developed air-to-air missile Astra was test fired from the Interim Test Range in Chandipur once again on Thursday, defence sources said.

This is the third test firing of the missile in the last five days, the sources said.

The sleek beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) soared into the clear sky at 11.33 am from a vertical position.

Developed by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad, Astra is an advanced missile capable of engaging targets over 80 km away. Experimental flight tests of the missile were conducted from the ITR on March 25 last and again the next day.

Sources said Thursday's test firing was aimed at studying the control and guidance system of the missile as part of its ongoing development programme. There was a possibility of one more test firing of the missile during the day, they informed.

As a precautionary measure, a population of over 6,100 from six villages located within a radius of 2.5 km of the launch complex at ITR had been evacuated temporarily and housed in four shelters with the assistance of the civil authorities.