Anti-Tank Missile Nag Test-Fired In Pokhran, Know How It Will Strengthen India's Military Capability

Anti-tank Missile Nag: With the successful trial of the weapon, Army will no longer be dependent on import from either Israel or the US for the range of four kilometres.

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It’s a proud moment for India as the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) completed the final trial of Nag anti-tank missile after which the weapon system is all set to be inducted into the Indian Army. The trial of shoulder-launched four-kilometer range missile was completed using a live warhead on a dud tank at Pokhran army ranges at 6.45 am on Wednesday. As per the Hindustan Times report, the Nag anti-tank missile is now ready for induction at locations such as the East Ladakh sector after it has completed 10 successful user trials with the weapon finding and then hitting the target. Also Read: Bihar Elections 2020: Promise Of Free Covid Vaccine In BJP Poll Manifesto; Nirmala Sitharaman Assures 19 Lakh Jobs Countering RJD's 10 Lakh How it will benefit India? As per the report in the Hindustan Times, the Army will no longer be dependent on the import of this weapon from either Israel or the US for the range of four kilometres. As a result of the unavailability of a credible anti-tank weapon, India had to purchase around 200 pieces of Spike anti-tank missiles from Israel as emergency purchases. This happened after the intense situation in Ladakh. The Spike missiles were purchased after the Galwan incident on June 15 after which both India and China deployed troops all along the 1597 km Line of Actual Control in Ladakh. The need for an anti-tank missile was sorely felt after PLA amassed artillery, rockets, and tanks in occupied Aksai Chin to deter India.

#WATCH: Nag Missile, successfully testfired today, hit its target in Pokharan. The target used for the trial was an old tank. pic.twitter.com/D5lyNv9HYw

— ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2020

What are the highlights of the system? The Nag Missile system fired from a Nag Missile Carrier (NAMICA) can take our targets at ranges of 4 to 7 kilometres and is fitted with an advanced seeker to home on to its target. It is a third-generation anti-tank guided missile, aided with attack capabilities that can destroy all known enemy tanks during day and night.

#WATCH: The successful final trial of Nag anti-tank guided missile conducted earlier today at Pokhran field firing ranges in Rajasthan.

The missile is now ready for induction into the armed forces. pic.twitter.com/lsExIBbefR — ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2020

The Army needs third-generation ATGMs with a strike range of over 2.5km with fire and forget capabilities. It needs them to equip its mechanised infantry units to carry them on their Russian BMP vehicles. What type of system Army’s currently possessed? The army is currently using second-generation Milan 2T and Konkur ATGMs and has been looking for about third-generation missiles, which are important for stopping advancing enemy tanks. The Defence Ministry in 2018 had cleared the acquisition of 300 Nag missiles and 25 NAMICAs for the Indian Army. What were the stages of trial? The DRDO has been conducting a missile testing spree with only the 1,000 km range sub-sonic cruise missile Nirbhay, developing a snag during a test earlier this month. The Nag trial comes after the DRDO tested the helicopter launched Stand-off Anti-Tank Missile (SANT) with beyond 10 km range from the Balasore testing range in Odisha on October 19. The missile will be integrated with attack helicopters in the future, the test was conducted from the ground and was successful. The missile is now expected to test fired in the coming months as the technical snag in the booster has been identified and rectified by the missile team.