Why in News? 

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Air Force (IAF) has successfully test-fired the indigenous Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) 'Astra' with an indigenously developed Radio Frequency (RF) Seeker from a Su-30 Mk-I fighter aircraft off the coast of Odisha.  

BVRAAM Astra:  

• About: Astra is India’s first indigenous BVRAAM, designed to target enemy aircraft beyond line-of-sight.   
  • It is equipped with a DRDO-developed indigenous Radio Frequency (RF) Seeker, which enables the missile to detect, track, and lock onto targets using radar, ensuring high accuracy in the terminal phase.  
• Key Features 
  • Astra is India’s first indigenous BVRAAM, capable of engaging supersonic, manouverable targets beyond 100 km and up to 20 km altitude.  
  • Uses inertial navigation, mid-course data link updates, and active radar homing, with a smokeless solid-fuel engine for enhanced stealth.  
  • Equipped with a DRDO-developed active RF seeker, enabling fire-and-forget and buddy launch mode, where one aircraft launches and another guides.

Indigenous Mounted Gun System (MGS):  

• DRDO’s Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE) has developed a fully indigenous 155mm/52 calibre MGS, which can be deployed in just 80 seconds.  
  • MGS is a type of mobile artillery weapon where a large-calibre gun (like a 155mm howitzer) is mounted on a wheeled or tracked vehicle instead of being towed separately.

Su-30MKI:  

• The Su-30MKI is a twin-engine multirole fighter developed by Russia’s Sukhoi and built by HAL for the IAF.   
  • Inducted in 2002, it performs air superiority, ground attack, electronic warfare, and maritime strike roles, and is a key asset in India’s combat fleet.