Bangalore: The Defence Research and Development Laboratories (DRDL) has submitted a Rs 1,000 crore proposal to the government for development of 'Astra', a short range air-to-air missile, to equip the indigenous multi-role Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), a top DRDL official said on September 5.

"We have submitted a proposal for the Rs 1,000 crore project for Astra and are awaiting an approval from the government," DRDL director Prahlada told reporters on the sidelines of the twelfth national seminar on aerospace structures.

Stating that successful trials had begun for Astra, he said over 60 to 70 further trials would be conducted on the short-range missile.

The Hyderabad-based DRDL, Prahlada said, would make the missile available to be equipped in Tejas, the Light Combat Aircraft during flight trials.

He said about 40 trials were further required to be conducted on Akash missile and added that corrections had been made on the Trishul missile, which is behind schedule by two years and trials would be held with the armed forces soon.

Prahlada said the government had ordered Dhanush missiles to be equipped on two ships.

PTI