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The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has made headlines with the successful test fire of its indigenously developed Laser-Guided Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM). These are the key elements to understand about the ATGM.
Understanding Anti-Tank Guided Missiles
ATGMs are primarily constructed with the aim to strike and obliterate heavily armoured military vehicles. The portability of these missiles ranges from single soldier transportable units, larger tripod-mounted weapons necessitating a squad or team for transportation and firing, to vehicle and aircraft mounted missile systems.
These particular types of guided missiles are dependent on an electro-optical imager (IIR) seeker, a laser, or a W-band radar seeker located in the nose of the missile. They are designed as ‘fire-and-forget’ missiles, allowing the operator to vacate the area after delivery, without requiring further guidance.
The Laser-Guided ATGM
Developed wholly within India, the Laser Guided ATGM employs a tandem High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) warhead to combat Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA)-protected armoured vehicles. This ATGM has been designed with the flexibility of multi-platform launch capability. It is currently being technically evaluated through trials using the 120mm rifled gun of MBT Arjun.
Other Noteworthy Anti-tank Missiles
Several other anti-tank missiles have been developed, including Helina, Nag, MPATGM, SANT, and ATGM for MBT Arjun.
Helina is designed for a maximum range of seven kilometers and developed for integration on the weaponized version of the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH).
The Nag missile, a third-generation fire-and-forget missile, is designed for mechanized formations to actively engage powerfully fortified enemy tanks.
The Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) has a range of 2.5 kilometers, with fire-and-forget and top attack capabilities for infantry use.
Meanwhile, SANT, a Smart Stand-off Anti-Tank Missile, is under development for launch from the Mi-35 Helicopter for the Air Force’s anti-tank operations.
Lastly, the ATGM for MBT Arjun is a laser-guided, precision-guided munition launched from the 120mm rifled gun of the Arjun tank to engage and defeat ERA-protected armoured targets.
UPSC Civil Services Examination: Previous Year Questions
One of the previous year questions was about “Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD).” THAAD is an American anti-missile system geared towards intercepting and destroying short and medium-range ballistic missiles during their “terminal” phase of flight when they are plunging towards the target. They have the ability to intercept missile inside and outside the atmosphere, and it is interoperable with other ballistic missile defence systems and can be deployed worldwide.
Another question was posed about Agni-IV Missile, which is a nuclear-capable long-range ballistic missile of India, with a strike range of 4000 km. The indigenously developed Agni-IV is a two-stage surface-to-surface missile, fueled by a two-stage solid fuelled system that can carry a one-tonne nuclear warhead over a distance of 4,000 kilometres.
