Anti-Tank Guided Missile Helina

Anti-Tank Guided Missile Helina

Subject – Security

Context – Anti­tank missile completes all trials

Concept –

• The helicopter-launched Nag Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM), Helina, being developed indigenously by DRDO, has completed all trials.
• Helina is a third-generation fire-and-forget class ATGM mounted on an indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), and has a minimum range of 500 metres and a maximum range of 7 kilometres
• The Helina (the Army version) and Dhruvastra (Indian Airforce version) are helicopter-launched versions of third-generation anti-tank guided missiles (the Nag missile system).

Nag Missile

• Nag is a third-generation, fire-and-forget, anti-tank guided missile developed by DRDO to support both mechanized infantry and airborne forces of the Indian Army.
• It is an all-weather condition with day and night capabilities and with a minimum range of 500m and a maximum range of 4 km.
• Nag can be launched from land and air-based platforms. The land version is currently available for integration on the Nag missile carrier (NAMICA).
• DRDO has developed nag Missiles under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program.

IGMDP (Integrated Guided Missile Development Program)

• It was conceived by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to enable India to attain self-sufficiency in the field of missile technology. It was approved by the Government of India in 1983 and completed in March 2012.
• The five missiles developed under this program are:
  • Prithvi: Short-range surface to surface ballistic missile.
  • Agni: Ballistic missiles with different ranges, i.e., Agni (I, II, III, IV, V).
  • Trishul: Short-range low-level surface to air missile.
  • Nag: 3^rd generation anti-tank missile.
  • Akash: Medium range surface to air missile.

Anti-tank guided missile

• An anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), anti-tank missile, anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW) or anti-armor guided weapon is a guided missile primarily designed to hit and destroy heavily armored military vehicles.
• 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.