The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) marked a significant milestone on Monday with the successful flight test of its advanced third-generation Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM). The weapon system, featuring a crucial 'top attack' capability, was tested against a moving target, demonstrating its prowess as a modern 'fire and forget' solution for infantry soldiers.
Desert Trial Captures Precision Strike
The test was conducted at the KK Ranges in Ahilya Nagar, Maharashtra. Official video footage released from the desert test range provides a detailed look at the entire firing sequence. It begins with a two-member crew positioned behind a tripod-mounted launcher, which was already elevated and locked onto a target.
Upon firing, the missile's rocket motor ignited with a bright orange-white plume and a sharp muzzle flash. The MPATGM exited the launcher rapidly and climbed steeply into the sky, clearly indicating its top-attack flight profile. This approach is designed to defeat enemy armour by striking the thinner top plating of tanks and armoured vehicles, rather than following a direct, flat trajectory.
Indigenous Technology on Display
The MPATGM is a shoulder-launched, portable system specifically engineered to neutralize enemy tanks. Weighing approximately 14.5 kg, with an additional 14.25 kg for the Command Launch Unit (CLU), it remains a lightweight asset for ground forces. Its cylindrical body features two sets of four radial fins for stability and control.
The missile boasts an operational range of 200 to 4,000 metres and is armed with a High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) shaped charge warhead. The terminal phase of the test, captured by an impact camera, showed the missile descending almost vertically onto a designated target—believed to be a mock-up of an armoured vehicle. The impact resulted in a bright explosion, fireball, and flying debris, confirming a precise strike and successful warhead detonation on the target's upper surface.
The system integrates several state-of-the-art indigenous technologies developed by DRDO's sister laboratories, including:
- An Imaging Infrared (IIR) Homing Seeker for target tracking.
- An all-electric Control Actuation System.
- An advanced Fire Control System.
- A Tandem Warhead for enhanced armour penetration.
- A dedicated propulsion system and high-performance sighting system.
Boosting Infantry Firepower
This successful test represents a major leap forward in India's quest for self-reliance in critical defence technology. The third-generation MPATGM, with its fire-and-forget and top-attack capabilities, will significantly enhance the combat effectiveness of infantry units against modern armoured threats. Once inducted, it will provide soldiers with a formidable, lightweight, and highly accurate weapon system to dominate the battlefield.
