DRDO has arduous task of developing new generation MPATGM for Indian defence forces

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has the arduous task of developing a Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) for the army as soon as possible to make up for the cancelled project. Interestingly, the Israeli-made Spike ATGM was chosen over Javelin ATGM made by US-based Raytheon-Lockheed Martin by the MoD.

MPATGM of India developed by DRDO

India has seemingly chosen indigenisation over modernisation after the DRDO successfully flight-tested the third generation anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) NAG, twice on September against two different targets in the ranges of Rajasthan. A similar test in the month of June earlier with the launcher system Nag Missile Carrier (NAMICA) had convinced DRDO of its efficacy.

This development is swiftly followed by report that the ministry of defence (MoD) has cancelled the USD500 million deal for Spike ATGM with Rafael AdvancedDefence Systems of Israel after price negotiations already completed. In fact, Rafael had entered into a joint venture with the Kalyani group and set up a missile sub-systems manufacturing facility near Hyderabad which was inaugurated in August 2017.

 

ATGM for different operations developed by DRDO for defence forces

The order for 8,000 Spike ATGMs has cancelled to make a way for indigenous design and development of weapon systems but it has surely slowed the necessary induction of multiple types of ATGMs. Spike comes in four variants; Spike-MR, Spike-LR, Spike ER, and Spike NLOS, of which India was to acquire the Spike MR variant which is a man portable system (MPATGM) with a range of 2.5 km and equipped with a tandem HEAT warhead capable of top attack mode.

 

Nag is a fire-and-forget ATGM with ‘top attack’ capabilities and a range of about 4km. It has tested on the NAMICA, an Indian license-produced variant of Russian BMP-II armoured infantry-fighting vehicle that contains four launch tubes and a guidance package including a thermal imager for target acquisition.

 

The missile’s targeting system is based on visual identification prior to launch with highly advanced Imaging Infrared Radar (IRR) seeker and has integrated avionics technology in its arsenal. The ATGM will be of immense support to the mechanised infantry and airborne forces of the Indian Army when inducted but the fact remains that it is a third generation missile while Spike is a fourth generation one. 

 

Nag has manufactured by state-owned Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and only been tested while mounted on the NAMICA combat vehicle. The Indian Army has a total requirement of 40,000 anti-tank guided missiles in the next 20 years and need missiles like Nag that can hit high-speed moving tanks without the support of an operator.

 

Currently, Indian Army is using 2nd generation ATGMs, Russian licensed Konkurs and French licensed Milan 2T, which do not have night-fighting capabilities.

 

DRDO is also working on HeliNa ATGM, the helicopter launched version of Nag, with a maximum range of up to 7km. Once operational, the HeliNa will be part of the armaments of the indigenously designed India’s fleet of light combat helicopters (LCH).