India test-fires missile

Published May 13, 2003

BHUBANESWAR, May 12: India test-fired its first domestically developed air-to-air missile for the third time in four days on Monday from a site in Orissa.

The Astra is powered by solid propellant and can strike targets between 25 to 40 kilometres away, beyond the usual visual range.

The 3.8-metre-high prototype was test-fired from a special fixed launcher on Sunday.—AFP