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The Indian Air Force (IAF) has placed two contracts with Bharat Dynamics Ltd. (BDL) for the indigenous Astra Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air Missile and the first batch is expected to be inducted by the end of the year, according to defence sources.
Development is under way on the more advanced and longer-range Astra-Mk2, a defence source said and static firing has been conducted.
The BDL has already received bulk production clearance for the manufacture of the Astra-MK1 missiles from the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC), a defence source said adding that this financial year, the IAF will compete proof firing and induction.
The Astra is fully integrated on the Su-30MKI.
In August, it was successfully test fired from the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas off the coast of Goa during which the missile was released from the aircraft at an altitude of about 20,000 ft.
Astra (missile)
Astra is an Indian family of all weather beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
Different missiles of this family are capable of engaging targets at varying distances of 500 m up to 340 km.
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