Air-to-air missile Astra in IAF arsel next year

New Delhi, March 13: With the indigenous beyond-vision air-to-air missile Astra set to be fired in public view for the first time, the Indian Air Force expects to induct the high-tech weapon into its inventory next year.

The missile, which took more than a decade to develop, is undergoing trials which are likely to finish by the year end, an official from the IAF told IANS on condition of anonymity.

Astra will be on display at IAF's fire-power demonstration Iron Fist in Pokhran, Rajasthan, on March 18, where a Su30 MKI jet will fire the missile. Prime Minister rendra Modi is to scheduled to witness the fire-power demonstration.

According to scientists, the technology for this missile is more sophisticated than that of ballistic missile Agni, as it works on a termil active radar-seeker and an updated mid-course interl guidance system that helps the missile in locating the target.

The seeker, said the official, was one reason why the missile, being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), was delayed for so long.