MPATGM
Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile | |
---|---|
Type | Anti-tank guided missile |
Place of origin | India |
Production history | |
Designer | Defence Research and Development Organisation VEM Technologies |
Designed | 2015 |
Manufacturer | Bharat Dynamics Limited |
Specifications | |
Mass | Missile: 14.50 kg (32.0 lb) CLU: 14.25 kg (31.4 lb)[1] |
Length | 1,300 mm (4 ft 3 in)[1] |
Diameter | 120 mm (4.7 in)[1] |
Crew | 2 |
Effective firing range | 200 m (0.20 km) - 4,000 m (4.0 km)[2] |
Sights | Digital sight with laser designator |
Warhead | Tandem-charge HEAT |
Blast yield | Penetration: 660mm of RHA + ERA 710mm of RHA[3] |
Engine | Dual-thrust rocket with blast tube ejection motor[4] |
Propellant | Solid fuel |
Guidance system | Imaging infrared homing |
Launch platform | Launch tube, tripod-mount |
The MPATGM or Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile,[5] is an Indian third generation fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) derived from India's Nag ATGM. As of 2022[update], it is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in partnership with Indian defence contractor VEM Technologies Private Limited.[1][6][7]
Design
The MPATGM is a low weight, long cylindrical missile with two groups of four radial fins, larger ones at the middle, and smaller ones at the tail.[7] It is fitted with one high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) shaped charge warhead.[6] The missile has a length of about 130 cm and a diameter of about 12 cm with a collapsible tripod, and launch tube of aluminum and carbon fiber to reduce weight.[1][8] It has a weight of 14.5 kg, with its command launch unit (CLU) weighing 14.25 kg which combines a laser designator with digital all-weather sight.[1] Minimum range is 200 to 300 m; maximum range is 4 km.[9]
The MPATGM is equipped with an advanced imaging infrared homing (IIR) sensor and integrated avionics.[10] The missile has top attack ability.[11] It reportedly shares many similarities with ATGMs such as America's FGM-148 Javelin[12] and Israel's Spike.[13]
Development
DRDO started work on a man-portable version of the Nag missile in 2015.[14] Ministry of Defence (MoD) sanctioned the official development of MPATGM on 27 January 2015 with probable completion date around 26 July 2018 at a cost of ₹73.46 crore.[15]
On 20 December 2017, India cancelled a major deal for acquiring the Israeli Spike (ATGM) in favour of the DRDO MPATGM, after deciding that no technology transfer was needed to develop MPATGM.[12] However, India reauthorized the deal in January 2018 during a visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to India.[16] This deal was cancelled again in June 2019 after DRDO promised to deliver the MPATGM by 2021.[17] However, the Indian Army bought a limited number of Spike (ATGM) to cater for their immediate needs until the MPATGM is ready for induction.[13] MPATGM user trials were planned to be complete by 2020 but postponed due COVID-19 pandemic.[18] On induction, MPATGM will replace second generation MILAN and 9M113 Konkurs ATGMs with the infantry, parachute, and special forces.
Indian defense startup company Tonbo Imaging with Bharat Dynamics is developing a light weight imaging infrared seeker without cryogenic compressor for MPATGM that uses real-time computing and artificial intelligence based image processing to help the missile orient itself toward the most vulnerable part of a target tank.[19]
Production facility
The MPATGM will be manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited at a facility located in Bhanoor, Telangana. This facility was inaugurated on 29 September 2018.[6][20]
Testing
- Test 1 – On 15 September 2018, DRDO conducted the first trial of the MPATGM; it was successful. On 16 September 2018, this was followed by another successful trial.[5][11]
- Test 2 – On 13 March 2019, DRDO successfully completed Guided Flight Trials (GFT) of MPATGM at Rajasthan desert. It proved the top attack mode, at a range of 2,500 m. On 14 March 2019, another successful test occurred.[21][22]
- Test 3 – On 11 September 2019, the missile was tested again. A man portable tripod launcher was used in the test. The target of the test was a dummy tank, which was hit via top attack.[23]
- Test 4 – After a gap of one year due to COVID-19 lockdown in India, on 21 July 2021, DRDO successfully flight tested MPATGM on a target mimicking a tank using a thermal sight to prove the minimum range using direct attack at 200–300 meters. The test was to validate missile in-flight stability and deployment of guidance mechanism within short distance. With this test, the MPATGM development project is now nearer completion. During this test, the missile used a newly developed light-weight state of the art miniaturized version of the IIR seeker.[15][24]
- Test 5 – On 11 January 2022, DRDO successfully flight tested MPATGM in final deliverable configuration. The test was to prove consistent performance at minimum range. It already completed a similar successful test for maximum range. The missile used a miniaturized IIR seeker with advanced avionics for on-board control and guidance. The system is now ready to enter serial production.[25] For this test, the Indian Army demanded that the missile be effective and accurate at 200–300 m, while DRDO was looking for a minimum distance of 400–500 m.[9] Contemporary ATGMs such as Spike-LR have a similar effective minimum range of 200 m.[26]
Gallery
See also
- Related development
- Missiles of comparable role and configuration
References
- ^ a b c d e f Dhingra, Jayesh (22 February 2019). "Aero India 2019: DRDO details short-range MPATGM". Jane's Missiles & Rockets. Bangalore: IHS Jane's 360. Retrieved 2019-07-08.
- ^ "India successfully tests man-portable anti-tank guided missile: All you need to know about it". Firstpost. 2022-01-12. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
- ^ Kumar, Arun (Col. Retd.). "Development of Anti-Tank Guided Missile". Q Tech Synergy. Defence ProAc Biz News. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
- ^ "Man-Portable Anti Tank Guided Missile". Ministry of Defence, Government of India. Defence Research & Development Organisation. 9 May 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ a b "Second Flight Test of MPATGM Successful". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 16 September 2018. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
- ^ a b c Siddiqui, Huma (1 October 2018). "MPATGM: Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile production facility opened at Bharat Dynamics Ltd". The Financial Express. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Geetanath, V. (14 March 2019). "Anti-tank missile developed by DRDO successfully fired". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
- ^ "The Indian DRDO Has A Top Attack Missile In The Works". 21st Century Asian Arms Race. 2019-09-12. Retrieved 2020-02-16.
- ^ a b Shukla, Ajai (12 January 2022). "DRDO test-fires indigenous anti-tank missile". Business Standard. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ Somasekar, M. (14 March 2019). "DRDO test fires successfully Man Portable Anti-tank Guided Missile". Business Line. Retrieved 2019-07-08.
- ^ a b Gady, Franz-Stefan (16 September 2018). "India's DRDO Test Fires Indigenous Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile". The Diplomat. Retrieved 2019-07-08.
- ^ a b "India scraps mega Israeli deal for anti-tank missiles in favor of DRDO product" (PDF). Defence Research and Development Organisation. 6 March 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
- ^ a b Pandit, Rajat (4 October 2019). "Army inducts Israeli 'tank killers' till DRDO develops indigenous ones". The Times of India. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
- ^ Udoshi, Partha Shukla & Rahul (2022-01-13). "India tests manportable anti-tank guided missile". www.janes.com. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
- ^ a b Shukla, Ajai (2021-07-22). "DRDO successfully test-flies indigenously developed 'man-portable ATGM'". Business Standard India. Retrieved 2021-07-25.
- ^ Gady, Franz-Stefan (June 2019). "Report: India Scraps Israel Anti-Tank Guided Missiles Deal (Again)". The Diplomat. Retrieved 2019-08-14.
- ^ Ranjan, Amitav (2019-06-24). "India scraps Israel anti-tank missile deal after DRDO says it will deliver". The Indian Express. New Delhi. Retrieved 2019-08-14.
- ^ Krishnan M., Anantha (14 February 2020). "Interview: Youngsters can power India into a defence technology leader: Dr Satheesh Reddy". OnManorama. Retrieved 2021-07-24.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Velayanikal, Malavika (2021-02-15). "Guided missiles homing in with Indian deep tech". Mint. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ PTI (1 October 2018). "Production facility for man-portable anti-tank missiles opened". The Economic Times. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
- ^ "Twin Success for Man Portable Anti Tank Guided Missile". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 14 March 2019. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
- ^ "Anti-tank guided missile test-fired successfully". The Economic Times. 14 March 2019. Retrieved 2019-07-08.
- ^ "DRDO successfully tests indigenous anti-tank missile". The Hindu. 2019-09-11. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2019-09-12.
- ^ Banerjea, Aparna (21 July 2021). "DRDO successfully flight tests home-grown man-portable anti-tank guided missile". Mint. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Sharma, Ravi (11 January 2022). "DRDO successfully flight tests final deliverable configuration of man portable anti-tank guided missile". Frontline. The Publishing. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- ^ "Spike-LR multi-purpose missile system". Missilery.info. Retrieved 2022-10-12.