Bengaluru: In a move that will bolster India’s air-to-air missile capabilities, it will start testing of Astra Mark 2 beyond visual range air to air missile by the second half of 2021, as per a report in ANI. 

What this means is that it will corroborate India’s supremacy in this sector, with the missile easily targeting its prey with a range of 160 kms. 

“The trial for the Astra Mark would be starting in the second half of this year and we are hoping to see the missile fully developed by 2022,” government officials were quoted by the news agency.

It is to be noted that the air-to-air missile (BVRAAM), travels four times the speed of sound at Mach 4.5. Efforts are now on to integrate the over 100 km strike range missile on the indigenous fighter aircraft LCA Tejas.

This robust missile – having the ability to strike day and night and under any weather conditions will surely be a pride. As it gets incorporated, it will replace the expensive Russian, French and Israeli BVRAAMs that are currently imported to arm IAF fighters.

The agency added that the Indian Air Force and Indian navy have already given orders for 288 Astra Mark-1 Missiles which are already "proven" on the Russian-origin Sukhoi-30MKI fighters.