India successfully tested the air-to-air class missiles of its own production

On Monday, India successfully tested two air-to-air Astra missiles, reports the Ministry of Defense of India. The launches of missiles were made from the landfill near the city of Chandipur in the East Indian state of Oriss.

“The first missile was released at 9:45 local time (12:15 Moscow time - approx. Ed.), The launch of the second rocket was made at 12:06. Both launches were successfully carried out,” Interfax quotes the message of the Indian military department.

The development of Astra missiles is carried out in India as part of a comprehensive program for creating modern missile weapons. Testing of this missile has been carried out since May 2003. In the course of them, the Astra ballistic characteristics are studied, the navigation, control system, the power system and other blocks are tested.

According to the developers, a single-stage solid fuel missile surpasses other similar types of weapons in its class in capabilities and is able to hit supersonic high-domed air targets that develop speeds of up to 1.2-1.4 m, at an altitude of 15 km and at a distance of 90-110 km.

The length of Astra is 3.6 m, the diameter is 175 mm, the starting weight is about 154 kg. This missile is planned to arm multipurpose Su-30MKI fighters and the MIRAGE-2000 Indian Air Force, ITAR-TASS notes.

In the case of successful completion of the Astra missile testing program, India will become the fifth state in the world with a high -range air -based air -based missiles technology. Currently, missiles that allow you to destroy air targets at a range of 90-120 km are produced only by the USA, Russia, China and France. The release of the first serial samples of Astra missiles is scheduled for 2011.