From correspondents in India, 02:01 PM IST

India successfully test fired Sunday the Astra air-to-air missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) of Chandipur-on-sea off the Orissa coast for the second time in two days, an official source said.

Defence sources said the beyond visual range air-to-air missile was successfully test fired from a specially designed launcher at 11.47 a.m.

It was test fired from launching complex number two of the Integrated Test Range, an official of the ITR told IANS.

The state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has 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 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 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.

The missile was earlier tested Saturday from the same defence base.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)