NAG Missile: Anti Tank Guided Missile

• 23 Oct 2020

Why in News

Recently, the final user trial of 3^rd generation Anti Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) NAG was carried out successfully from Pokhran range in Thar desert (Rajasthan).

Key Points

• Developed By: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
• Features:
  
  • The NAG missile has been developed to strike and neutralise highly-fortified enemy tanks. It also has night strike capabilities.
    
    • ATGMs are missile systems that can strike and neutralise armoured vehicles such as tanks.
  • It has a minimum range of 500 metres and maximum range of 4 km.
  • As a third-generation ‘fire and forget’ category system, NAG uses an imaging infra-red seeker to lock on to the target before launch.
  • In the top attack mode, the missile is required to climb sharply after launch and travel at a certain altitude, then plunge on top of the target. In the direct attack mode, the missile travels at a lower altitude, directly striking the target.
  • It has a capability to defeat Main Battle Tanks (MBT) equipped with composite and reactive armour.
  • The NAG missile carrier (NAMICA) is a Russian-origin BMP-II based system with amphibious capability.
    
    • BMP-II is a mechanized infantry fighting vehicle.
• Version of NAG ATGM: DRDO is currently in the final stages of the development of the helicopter-launched version of Nag ATGM, called the Helina, which has undergone successful tests in 2018.
• Significance:
  
  • With this final user trial, Nag will enter the production phase.
    
    • The missile will be produced by Defence Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), whereas Ordnance Factory, Medak, will produce the NAMICA.
  • This means that the Indian Army will no longer have to import this weapon from either Israel or the USA for the range of four kilometres.
    
    • It was due to unavailability of a credible anti-tank weapon, that India had to buy around 200 pieces of Spike anti-tank missiles from Israel as emergency purchases after the aggression by the People's Liberation Army (China) in Ladakh.
  • Further, 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.
• Other Missile Systems: Missiles have been developed by India under ‘Integrated Guided Missile Development Program’.

IGMDP (Integrated Guided Missile Development Program)

• It was conceived by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to enable India 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 5 missiles (P-A-T-N-A) developed under this program are:
  
  • Prithvi: Short range surface to surface ballistic missile.
  • Agni: Ballistic missiles with different ranges, i.e. Agni (1,2,3,4,5)
  • Trishul: Short range low level surface to air missile.
  • Nag: 3^rd generation anti-tank missile.
  • Akash: Medium range surface to air missile.

• Other Recent Tests:
  
  • The NAG ATGM trial was in continuation of a series of missile tests conducted by the DRDO in the last one-and-a-half months.
    • Among these trials were two other ATGMs - the Laser-Guided ATGM, and the Stand-Off Anti-Tank Missile (SANT).
  • DRDO, successfully tested India’s first indigenous anti-radiation missile named Rudram, Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) system, nuclear capable missile Shaurya, Naval version of the BrahMos and Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV).

Source: PIB