India successfully test-fires indigenously developed Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile

Ahmednagar, September 17: India conducted a successful test fired indigenously developed Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) with achieving all the objectives of mission. 

Notably, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted the first-ever test firing of its man-portable shoulder-launched anti-tank guided missile (MPATGM) system. The test was done at the KK ranges in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar.

In a release, the DRDO said, “Indigenously developed Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM), was successfully flight tested for the second time from the Ahmednagar range today. All the mission objectives have been met. The two missions on 15 and 16 September 2018 have been successfully flight tested for different ranges including the maximum range capability.”

Raksha Mantri Nirmala Sitharaman congratulated the team DRDO, Indian Army and associated Industries for the twin success of MPATGM weapon system.

The missile is a derivative of the NAG weapon system. The other versions of the missile are the baseline vehicle-launched version and air-launched version HELINA. Earlier this year, the Ministry of Defence had cleared the purchase of 300 NAG missiles with 25 tracked launcher vehicles in a deal worth $70 million.

The program was sanctioned in 2015 and design configurations were doe the system were frozen by the end of this year. Eight tests of the rocket motor to monitor ballistic performance for shoulder launch were conducted in 2016.

The Indian Army needs over 40,000 missiles for its infantry and mechanized units. While it has rejected the US-built Javelin system, a formal decision on the procurement on the Israeli SPIKE system is awaited. The system will have to undergo multiple developments and user trials before it can meet the requirements of the Indian Army.