About The ASTRA Missile

Context:

Recently, Tejas, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) LSP-7 successfully fired the ASTRA off the coast of Goa on August 23, 2023.

Relevance:

GS III: Science and Technology

Dimensions of the Article:

1. ASTRA Missile
2. Key Features of LCA Tejas

ASTRA Missile:

• Indigenous Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile.
• Purpose: Engaging and neutralizing highly agile supersonic aerial targets.
• Designed and developed by DRDL, RCI, and other DRDO labs.
• A significant stride towards ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ with Astra BVR integrated into Tejas fighters.

Key Features of LCA Tejas:

• Lightest, smallest, and tailless multi-role supersonic fighter aircraft.
• Equipped for various air-to-air, air-to-surface, precision-guided weaponry.
• Capability for air-to-air refueling.
• Tejas has a maximum payload capacity of 4000 kg.
• Achieves a speed of Mach 1.8.