India Begins User Trials of Russian Air-to-Air Missiles, Destroys UK-Made Drone in Drill

In the first indication that Russian missiles are being used by India’s primary warplanes, including the Su-30MKI and Mirage 2000, the Indian Air Force has started user trials of next generation air-to-air missiles manufactured by Vympel, a subsidiary of Russia’s consolidated JSC Tactical Missiles Corporation.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) began user trials of extended-range, Russian-made air-to-air missiles on Wednesday. On the first day, the IAF test fired the air-to-air missile from a Sukhoi-30 MKI combat aircraft; it destroyed a UK-made Banshee drone off the coast of Odisha.