MPATGM Weapon System: Man Portable Anti-tank Guided Missile

GS Paper III Science and Technology

Context

Recently, the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) & Indian Army conducted successful trials of indigenous Man Portable Anti-tank Guided Missile Weapon System.

The Warhead Flight Trials were successfully conducted at the Pokhran Field Firing Range, Rajasthan. Missile performance and warhead performance were found to be remarkable.

Indigenously Developed: MPATGM Weapon System is indigenously designed and developed by Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO).
Comprises: The system consisted of the MPATGM, Launcher, Target Acquisition System, and the Fire Control Unit.
Strike Range: 2.5 km
Significance: Penetration trials of the Tandem Warhead System of MPATGM have been successfully completed.
- It is found capable of defeating modern armour protected Main Battle Tank.
- The MPATGM Weapon System is well-equipped with day/night and top attack capability.
  - Dual mode seeker functionality is a great value addition to the missile capability for tank warfare.
- It is an important step towards achieving self-reliance in advanced technology-based defence system development.

Establishment: It is the R&D wing of the Ministry of Defence, formed in 1958 from the amalgamation of the Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) of the Indian Army and the Directorate of Technical Development & Production (DTDP) with the Defence Science Organisation (DSO).
Vision: To empower India with cutting-edge defence technologies.
Mission:
- To achieve self-reliance in critical defence technologies and systems.
- Equipping armed forces with state-of-the-art weapon systems and equipment in accordance with requirements laid down by the three Services.

ATGMs are primarily designed to hit and destroy heavily armored military vehicles.
The missiles can be transported by a single soldier, to larger tripod-mounted weapons, which require a squad or team to transport and fire, to vehicle and aircraft mounted missile systems.
These are ‘fire-and-forget’ missiles where the operator can retreat right after firing as there is no more guidance required.

It is an indigenously developed low weight, fire and forgets missile.
It is ‘Soft’ launched from a canister using an Ejection Motor. It uses a state-of-the-art Imaging Infra-Red (IIR) Seeker system for homing on to the target.
- IIR Seeker systems have been successfully flight tested in Anti-Tank Guided Missiles Nag, HELINA and MPATGM. IIR Seekers have also been successfully demonstrated in the Exo-Atmospheric Interceptor PDV and Anti Satellite Test (ASAT), Mission Shakti.

MPATGM

It uses the infrared light emission from a target to track and follow it.
- Missiles that use infrared seeking are known as “heat-seekers” since infrared is radiated strongly by hot bodies.
This missile is for infantry and Parachute (Special Forces) of the Indian Army.

Also Read: Atmanirbharta in Defence Sector: Status

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