The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully flight-tested the Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) with top-attack capability against a moving target, marking a key step towards its induction into the Indian Army.
The third-generation “fire and forget” missile was tested on January 11 at the KK Ranges in Ahilya Nagar, Maharashtra. The trial was conducted by DRDO’s Defence Research and Development Laboratory, Hyderabad.
The indigenously developed MPATGM is equipped with advanced technologies, including an Imaging Infrared (IIR) homing seeker, an all-electric control actuation system, a fire control system, a tandem warhead, a propulsion system and a high-performance sighting system.
These technologies have been developed by several DRDO laboratories across the country, including Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad; Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, Chandigarh; High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune; and Instruments Research and Development Establishment, Dehradun.
To simulate an enemy tank during the trial, a Thermal Target System developed by the Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur was used. According to DRDO, the IIR seeker provides the missile with both day and night operational capability, while the tandem warhead is designed to defeat modern main battle tanks.
Bharat Dynamics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited are the development-cum-production partners for the missile system.
The MPATGM can be launched either from a tripod or from a military vehicle-mounted launcher, making it suitable for a wide range of battlefield conditions.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, its industry partners and all those involved in the project for the successful test, describing it as an important step towards strengthening Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing.
Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V. Kamat said the missile had successfully hit the trial target, paving the way for the weapon system’s induction into the Indian Army.
