DRDO & IAF conduct successful flight-test of indigenous BVRAAM 'Astra'

United News of India

12-07-2025

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Visakhapatnam, July 12 (UNI) Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully conducted the flight-test of indigenous Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air missile (BVRAAM) 'Astra' equipped with indigenous Radio Frequency (RF) Seeker from Su-30 Mk-I platform off the coast of Odisha.
During the tests yesterday, two launches were carried out against high-speed unmanned aerial targets at different ranges, target aspects, and launch platform conditions, a defence release said here today.
In both cases, the missiles destroyed the targets with pinpoint accuracy.
During the tests, all subsystems performed as per expectations, including the RF seeker, which has been indigenously designed & developed by DRDO.
The flawless performance of the Astra weapon system was validated through flight data captured by Range Tracking instruments deployed by the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur.
These successful flight tests have re-established the accuracy and reliable performance of Astra weapon systems with an indigenous seeker.
Astra BVRAAM has a range exceeding 100 km and is equipped with state-of-the-art guidance and navigation systems.
In addition to various laboratories of DRDO, more than 50 public and private industries, including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, have contributed towards the successful realisation of the weapon system.
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh complimented DRDO, IAF, and industry involved in the design and development of the RF seeker and stated that the successful testing of the missile with an indigenous seeker is a major milestone in critical defence technology.
Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO, Dr Samir V Kamat, congratulated all the teams involved during the successful flight-test.
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