Balasore, Orissa: India on Friday carried out a flight test of the Astra beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur near here today. Carried out around 0950 hours, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) sources said two more tests are likely to be conducted in the next two days.

The missile is envisaged to intercept and destroy enemy aircraft at supersonic speeds in the head-on mode at a range of 80 km and in tail-chase mode at 20 km.

"The main purpose of today's trial is to gauge the performance of the motor, propulsion system and the configurations of the vehicle and aero-dynamics evaluation," said DRDO sources.

Data from the flight test is being analysed by the scientists to ascertain the outcome.

Astra missiles are likely to be integrated with all frontline fighter aircraft of the air force, such as the Sukhoi-30MKI, the MiG-29, Mirage 2000 and the indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft Tejas.

The Astra BVRAAM, which uses solid propellant, is the smallest of the missiles developed by the DRDO in terms of size and weight. It will have an active homing range of 25 km and will carry a pre-fragmented warhead fitted with a proximity fuse.

A radar fuse already exists for the Astra, but the DRDO is currently working on a new laser fuse.

Reportedly, the Mark 2 version of Astra will have a maximum range of 150 km and tail chase range of up to 35 km.

The missile is 3.8-metre long and has a diameter of 178 mm with an overall launch weight of 160 kg.

DRDO officials say it is more advanced than similar class of missiles of US, Russia and European origin.

Earlier, the missile's captive flight tests on a Su-30MKI were carried out near Pune in November 2009 when seven sorties were conducted.

Astra's first flight trial took place on May 9, 2003 from the ITR at Chandipur.