Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM)

In News

• Recently, Indigenously developed Laser-Guided Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) were successfully test-fired from Main Battle Tank (MBT) Arjun.

More about Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM)

• About:
  • It is a guided missile primarily designed to hit and destroy heavily armored military vehicles. 
• Sizes:
  • ATGMs range in size from shoulder-launched weapons, which 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.
• Capabilities:
  • The all-indigenous Laser Guided ATGM employs a tandem High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) warhead to defeat Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) protected armoured vehicles.
  • The ATGM has been developed with a multi-platform launch capability. 
• Current status in India:
  • It is currently undergoing technical evaluation trials from the 120 mm rifled gun of MBT Arjun.
  • With the trial, the ATGM’s capability to engage targets from minimum to maximum range has been established.
• HELINA & ATGM:
  • HELINA (Helicopter-based NAG) is a third generation fire and forget class Anti-tank Guided Missile (ATGM) system mounted on the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH). 
  • More about HELINA:
    • The system has all-weather day and night capability and can defeat battle tanks with conventional armour as well as explosive reactive armour. 
    • The HELINA missile can engage targets both in direct hit mode as well as top attack mode. 
    • HELINA Weapon Systems is being inducted into the Indian Army (IA). 
      • A variant of the HELINA Weapon System called DHRUVASTRA is being inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Source: TH