In a significant advancement for India’s defense capabilities, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has accomplished a successful flight test of the third-generation Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM), featuring top-attack capabilities against moving targets. This milestone showcases India’s progress in indigenous missile development.
The flight test occurred at the KK Ranges in Ahilya Nagar, Maharashtra, demonstrating not only the missile’s remarkable accuracy but also its reliability and sophisticated combat potentials under conditions that closely mimic real operational scenarios.
The MPATGM is designed as a third-generation, fire-and-forget weapon system, utilizing a host of cutting-edge indigenous technologies. Key features include:
– An Imaging Infrared (IIR) homing seeker that operates effectively in both day and night conditions.
– An all-electric control actuation system.
– An advanced fire control system.
– A tandem warhead engineered to overcome modern main battle tanks.
– High-performance propulsion and sighting systems.
Various subsystems for the MPATGM have been developed by DRDO’s partner laboratories. These include Research Centre Imarat (Hyderabad), the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (Chandigarh), High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (Pune), and the Instruments Research & Development Establishment (Dehradun). A Thermal Target System, which was used to simulate a tank target during testing, was developed by the Defence Laboratory in Jodhpur.
One of the most notable aspects of the MPATGM is its operational flexibility. The missile can be launched not only from a tripod but also from a launcher mounted on military vehicles, making it adaptable for both infantry units and mechanized formations. Its design allows for a top-attack profile, enabling it to strike the weakest part of enemy armor, thereby significantly enhancing lethality on the battlefield.
For the development and production of the MPATGM system, DRDO has partnered with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). Following the successful trial, the missile project is closer to achieving induction into the Indian Army.
In response to the successful test, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh extended his congratulations to DRDO along with its industrial partners and development teams. He hailed this achievement as a pivotal step toward achieving Aatmanirbhar Bharat in the defense sector. Additionally, Samir V Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO, asserted that the trial met all predetermined objectives and validated the weapon system, setting a clear path for its eventual induction into the Indian Army.
