Finally, after 15 years in the making Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM), Astra has completed developmental trials which are likely to end India¡¯s quest for a complex air to air missile system.
The homegrown missile capable of detecting and destroying highly manoeuvrable targets, moving at a supersonic speed will soon be inducted into Indian armed forces making it sixth country to have such capability.
Final rounds of trials were successfully conducted by Sukhoi-30 MKI by IAF over the Bay of Bengal. Seven missiles were fired altogether against Pilotless Target Aircraft (PTA) during the last four days.?
Defence sources said the missile was fired at a?very long range and different altitudes. It successfully engaged high manoeuvring targets at medium range while multiple launches of the missiles were carried out in salvo mode to engage multiple targets.
Developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), first ground test of the missile was conducted in May 2003. While in 2010, it was test fired in the night and in inclement weather, it¡¯s first trial from a fighter aircraft was carried out in May 2014. The missile was fired against an actual target in 2012 when it destroyed a drone.