Air-to-Air missile Astra successfully flight-tested

Question: Recently Indian Air Force successfully flight-tested air-to-air missile Astra from which of the following fighter aircraft?
(a) Su-30 MKI
(b) Rafael
(c) Mig-21
(d) Mirage 2000
Answer: (a)
Related facts:

  • On 17th September, 2019, the Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully flight-tested air-to-air missile Astra from Su-30 MKI.
  • This test was done as a part of user trials from the Bay of Bengal off the coast of Odisha.
  • It is India’s first air-to-air missile which is engaged accurately with the live aerial target demonstrating its capability.

Astra Missile:

  • Astra is an indigenously developed sophisticated Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM).
  • It is capable of engaging targets of different ranges and altitudes including long-range and short-range targets.
  • It has a range of over 70 km and can fly towards its target at a speed of over 5,555 kilometers per hour.
  • With highly advanced features like Electronic Counter- Counter Measures (ECCM), it has a 15-kilogramme high-explosive pre-fragmented warhead.
  • Astra is India’s first beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile indigenously designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
  • Modifications of the Sukhoi-30 MKI jets to accommodate Astra missiles were done by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
  • The missile test was tracked by different Radars, Sensors and Electro-Optical Tracking System (EOTS).

Links:
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/indian-air-force-air-to-air-missile-astra-drdo-defence-ministry-1600084-2019-09-17
https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/iaf-drdo-successfully-flight-test-astra-air-to-air-missile-119091701560_1.html
https://www.airforce-technology.com/news/iaf-test-fires-astra-air-to-air-missile-from-su-30-mki-combat-aircraft/