Indian DRDO has Successfully Tested Final Configuration of Its MPATGM

India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) flight tested the final deliverable configuration of Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) on Tuesday. The missile impacted the designated target and destroyed it. The present test was to prove the consistent performance for the minimum range. The missile performance has been proven for the maximum range in earlier test trials. The missile impacted the designated target and destroyed it. The final impact event was captured on camera and the test has validated the minimum range successfully, the Indian defense ministry said in a statement.

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has congratulated DRDO for the consistent performance of the anti-tank missile and said that this is an important step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat in advanced technology-based defense system development. Secretary Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr. G Satheesh Reddy congratulated the team for the excellent performance of the missile during the test.

The MPATGM is an Indian third-generation fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile derived from Nag ATGM. It is currently under development by the DRDO in partnership with Indian defense contractor VEM Technologies Private Limited. Indian defense startup company Tonbo Imaging with Bharat Dynamics is developing a lightweight imaging infrared seeker without a cryogenic compressor for MPATGM that uses a real-time artificial intelligence-based image processing unit to help the missile reorient itself. The MPATGM will be manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited at a facility located in Bhanoor, Telangana. This facility was inaugurated on September 29, 2018.

The MPATGM is a low-weight, long cylindrical missile with a group of four fins around its mid-section. It is fitted with high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead.[6] The missile has a length of about 1,300 mm and a diameter of about 120 mm with an aluminum and carbon fiber launch tube and a collapsible tripod to save on weight. It weighs 14.5 kg, with its command launch unit (CLU) weighing 14.25 kg which combines a laser designator with digital all-weather sight. It can cover a minimum range of 200 to 300 m and a maximum range of 4 km. The MPATGM is equipped with an advanced imaging infrared (IIR) sensor and integrated avionics. The missile has top attack capability. It reportedly shares many similarities with systems such as FGM-148 Javelin, and Spike (ATGM).