India's domestic air

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, and the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification monitored the first-of-its-kind launch in western India, which Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh praised. According to Singh, the test would enhance the "Tejas" aircraft's combat capabilities and reduce its reliance on imported weapons.

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) "Tejas" is a light multirole fighter created by the ADA in collaboration with the Aircraft Research and Design Centre for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Navy. It was developed from the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program, which began in the 1980s to replace India's aging MiG-21 fighters. Currently, the "Tejas" has three production models: Mark 1, Mark 1A, and a trainer version. The IAF has ordered 32 Mark 1s, 73 Mark 1As, and 18 Mark 1 trainer aircraft. The IAF plans to procure 324 aircraft in all variants, including the Tejas Mark 2, which is expected to be ready for series production by 2026. The LSP-7, standing for "Limited Series Production," is the penultimate series of the aircraft, with the LSP-8 intended as the final production run.

#DRDOUpdates | Achieving major milestone towards #atmanirbharbharat ASTRA-Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Missile in its maiden flight trial was successfully fired from LCA Tejas off the coast of Goa.@DefenceMinIndia@SpokespersonMoD https://t.co/UF4p5GVfeI pic.twitter.com/dqoIWY0LTf

— DRDO (@DRDO_India) August 23, 2023

“The test launch was monitored by Group Captain B Balaji. The aircraft was also monitored by a chase 'Tejas' twin-seater aircraft piloted by Wing Commander Siddarth Singh KMU (Retd), Flight Test Pilot, and Wing Commander K P Kiran Kumar. During the hot debrief, pilots commented that all the objectives of the tests were met and it was the perfect textbook launch,” the ADA said.

#DRDOUpdates | Achieving major milestone towards #atmanirbharbharat ASTRA-Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Missile in its maiden flight trial was successfully fired from LCA Tejas off the coast of Goa.@DefenceMinIndia@SpokespersonMoD https://t.co/UF4p5GVfeI pic.twitter.com/dqoIWY0LTf

— DRDO (@DRDO_India) August 23, 2023

Reduce import dependence

According to the ADA, having the capability to launch the ASTRA missiles from "Tejas" fighters will boost combat ability and reduce reliance on imported weapons. “The indigenous Astra BVR firing from homegrown Tejas fighters is a major step towards Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. Further launches are planned in the next few months to verify the performance,” sources in the ADA said.

The DRDO is also reportedly developing an ASTRA-2 missile with a 99.4-mile (160-kilometer).