India on Monday successfully test-fired the Astra air-to-air missile at the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, 15 kilometres from Balasore.

This is the third test in four days. The sleek 3.8 metre high missile was fired from the specially erected launcher at 1050 hours IST.

The first ever test firing of Astra was undertaken from the ITR on Friday last, which was followed by another launch on Sunday. Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, the missile has a range of 25 to 40 km providing it a Beyond Visual Range (BVR) interception capability, DRDO sources said.

Designed to be the main interception weapon of the indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft, the missile is powered by a solid propellant.