Ankara: India conducted a test-flight Friday of an indigenous 'beyond visual range' air-to-air missile, Astra BVRAAM, equipped with an indigenous "radio frequency seeker," according to a statement by the defense ministry. The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Indian Air Force carried out the test from a Su-30 Mk-I fighter jet off the coast of Odisha in eastern India, it said.

According to Anadolu Agency, during the tests, two launches were carried out against high-speed unmanned aerial targets at different ranges, target aspects, and launch platform conditions. The ministry noted that in both cases, the missiles destroyed the targets with pinpoint accuracy. These successful flight tests have re-established the accuracy and reliable performance of the Astra weapon system with the indigenous seeker.

The ministry highlighted that Astra BVRAAM has a range exceeding 100 kilometers (62 miles) and is equipped with state-of-the-art guidance and navigation systems. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh remarked that the successful testing of the missile with the indigenous seeker is a major milestone in critical defense technology. In April, India conducted four successful test flights of the army version of the medium-range surface-to-air missile over two days.