The indigenously developed SAMHO or Semi-Active Mission Homing Laser Guided Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) was successfully test fired on 1st Oct 2020 defeating a target located at longer range. The test was conducted from Main Battle Tank Arjun at KK ranges (ACC&S) Ahmednagar in continuation of successful trial done on 22nd Sep 2020. This laser guided missile has been developed by Armament R&D Establishment (ARDE), Pune in association with High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune and Instruments Research & Development Establishment (IRDE), Dehradun.
The SAMHO Anti-Tank Guided Missile covers 4 km in range that is capable to destroy explosive reactive armour protection. It employs a tandem HEAT warhead to defeat Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) protected armoured vehicles in ranges from 1.5 to 5 km. It has been developed with multiple-platform launch capability and is currently undergoing technical evaluation trials from 120 mm rifled gun of MBT Arjun. SAMHO uses semi-active laser homing as guidance and can destroy low flying helicopters and hardened point structures.
The Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation completed the feasibility study by 2004 and started developing SAMHO in 2014 as part of Cannon Launched Missile Development Programme to replace LAHAT that can be launched from multiple-platform and mitigate the minimum engagement range of 1,200 meters. The LAHAT (Laser Homing Attack or Laser Homing Anti-Tank) is a semi-active laser homing guided low-weight anti-tank guided missile developed since 1992 and manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries. The SAMHO is also one of the key upgrade feature for Arjun Mark 1A.
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on the successful test firing of the ATGM. Secretary DD R&D and Chairman DRDO congratulated DRDO personnel for this achievement which paves the way for Atmanirbhar Bharat pledge of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Pune-based Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) developed the ATGM in association with High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune and Instruments Research and Development Establishment (IRDE), Dehradun.
