From correspondents in India, 02:00 PM IST

India successfully test fired the Astra air-to-air missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) of Chandipur-on-sea off the Orissa coast Saturday.

'Astra is a beyond visual range air-to-air missile. The test was a success," S.P. Das, director of the ITR, told IANS.

"There may be some more tests in the next couple of days," he added.

State-run Defence Research and amp; Development Organisation (DRDO) has already completed the control flights of Astra, designed for an 80-km range in head-on mode and 20 km-range in tail-chase mode.

The beyond visual range missile has been integrated with the carrier aircraft Sukhoi-30 MKI and might be integrated with other fighter jets (Mirage 2000 and MiG 29) once all tests are done to verify its accuracy in destroying manoeuvring targets.

The Hyderabad-based Defence Research and amp; Development Laboratory (DRDL) took nearly five years to develop the 150-kg tactical missile at an estimated cost of Rs.10 billion under the integrated guided missile development programme of the DRDO. Possessing such a futuristic weapon will propel India into an elite club of countries such as the US, Russia, France and Israel.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)