Laser Guided ATGM

Subject: Science and tech

Context:

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully test fired a laser guided Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) from the indigenous Arjun main battle tank.

Concept:

• The missile employs a tandem High-Explosive Anti-Tank [HEAT] warhead to neutralisearmoured vehicles which have reactive armours, which are specially-designed protective armours used in military vehicles.
• While the missile is currently being tested from the MBT Arjun, it has been designed so that it can be fired from other platforms too.
• The missile has the capability of engaging with the target even if it is not in the line of sight.
• Laser-guided ATGMs lock and track the targets with the help of laser designation to ensure precision-hit accuracy.
• Pune-based DRDO facilities – Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE) and the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) have developed the missile in collaboration with another DRDO laboratory, Instruments Research and Development Establishment (IRDE) in Dehradun.
• Over the last three years, the DRDO has successfully conducted tests of Man Portable ATGM and also a ATGM system named Nag. The indigenously developed low-weight, ‘fire and forget’ Man Portable Anti Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) in September last year. In February 2018, ATGM Nag was successfully tested in desert conditions.