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.
MPATGM Weapon System – Man Portable Anti-tank Guided Missile
- 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.
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About Defence Research & Development Organisation
- 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:
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- 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.
About Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs)
- 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.
About Man Portable Anti-tank Guided Missile (MPATGM)
- 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.
- 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.
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April 15, 2024