In the ongoing drive to hone operational readiness, India on Thursday successfully test fired the Nag anti-tank guided missile(ATGM). It was the final user trial of the indigenously designed lethal weapon system and will shortly be deployed at the Line of Actual Control(LAC)facing China.
The missile system will act as a major force multiplier and help the infantry to take out enemy tanks at range of five to seven kms. At present, China has amassed its tanks in the plains of Depsang valley and some other places in Eastern Ladakh since the stand-offs began in early May.
Moreover, the latest test by the Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO)comes at a time when it has ramped up its efforts by conducting nearly back to back tests of various missiles in the last one month. These validations on the one hand exemplified rapid self-reliance and on the other the capabilities to meet any challenge in the backdrop of ongoing tension at the LAC in eastern Ladakh.
Giving details of the Nag test, officials said here the final user trial of third generation Nag was carried out at 0645 hrs from Pokhran range. The missile was integrated with the actual warhead and a tank target was kept at designated range. This was launched from Nag Missile Carrier NAMICA. The missile hit the target accurately defeating the armour. The missile underwent more than ten trials before the final clearance on Thursday.
The missile was developed by the DRDO to engage highly fortified enemy tanks in day and night conditions. The missile has “Fire & Forget” “Top Attack” capabilities with passive homing guidance to defeat all Main Battle Tanks(MBT) equipped with composite and reactive armour.
The NAG missile carrier NAMICA is a BMP II based system or armoured personnel carrier with amphibious capability. With this final user trial, the Nag will enter into production phase. The missile will be produced by the public sector Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), whereas Ordnance Factory, Medak will produce the NAMICA.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO and Indian Army for the successful trial of NAG Missile. The DRDO chief G Satheesh Reddy appreciated the efforts of the DRDO, Indian Army and industry in bringing the missile up to the production phase.
The sophisticated missile will be soon be inducted into the Army and deployed at the LAC in the first phase, sources said adding the missile is fitted with an advanced seeker to home on to its target.
At present, the army is equipped with the second-generation Milan 2T and Konkur ATGMs and has been looking for about third-generation missiles, which are important for stopping advancing enemy tanks. The government in 2018 had given the nod for procurement of 300 Nag missiles and 25 NAMICAs for the Indian Army.
When the face-offs began five months back, the Indian army got the go-ahead to procure more than 300 Spike ATGMS from Israel to bolster the firepower of the infantry. The imported missile like the Nag can be fired from shoulder and has a range of more than five kms.
Meanwhile, the series of successful tests in the last few weeks include Brahmos supersonic missile fired from a warship, Nirbhay subsonic missile and Akash air defence missile. Incidentally, all these missiles are deployed at the LAC. The missiles were stationed at critical locations to counter the threat posed by the Chinese long range missiles deployed in the Tibet region.
Stepping up the momentum of readiness, the DRDO in the last one month also tested Rudram -1. Also, the laser guided anti-tank guided missile and nuclear capable hypersonic missile ‘Shaurya,’ were test fired. The successful test firing of Rudram-1 was seen as a major milestone as it is India’s first indigenously developed anti-radiation weapon.