Man portable anti-tank guided missile | |
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![]() MPATGM tested on 11 January 2022 | |
Type | Anti-tank guided missile |
Place of origin | India |
Production history | |
Designer | Defence Research and Development Organisation |
Designed | 2015 |
Manufacturer | Bharat Dynamics Limited |
Specifications | |
Mass | Missile: 14.50 kg (32.0 lb) Command Launch Unit (CLU): 14.25 kg (31.4 lb) [1] |
Length | 1,300 mm (4 ft 3 in) [1] |
Diameter | 120 mm (4.7 in) [1] |
Crew | 2 |
Effective firing range | 200 m (0.20 km) - 4,000 m (4.0 km) [2] |
Sights | Digital sight with laser designator |
Warhead | Tandem-charge HEAT |
Blast yield | Penetration: 660 mm of RHA + ERA 710 mm of RHA [3] |
Engine | Dual-thrust rocket with blast tube ejection motor [4] |
Propellant | Solid fuel |
Guidance system | Mid-wave infrared direct drive [5] |
Launch platform | Launch tube, tripod-mount |
The MPATGM or man portable anti-tank guided missile, [6] is an Indian third generation fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) derived from India's Nag ATGM. It is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) [1] [7] [8]
The MPATGM is a low weight, long cylindrical missile with two groups of four radial fins, larger ones at the middle, and smaller ones at the tail. [8] It is fitted with one high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) shaped charge warhead. [7] The missile has a length of about 130 cm and a diameter of about 12 cm with a collapsible tripod, and launch tube of aluminum and carbon fiber to reduce weight. [1] [9] It has a weight of 14.5 kg, with its command launch unit (CLU) weighing 14.25 kg which combines a laser designator with digital all-weather sight. [1] Minimum range is 200 to 300 m; maximum range is 4 km. [10]
The MPATGM is equipped with an advanced dual-mode imaging infrared homing (IIR) sensor with integrated avionics for day and night operations. [11] [12] With both direct and top attack capabilities, the missile fires in lock-on before launch mode. [13] [14] It reportedly shares many similarities with ATGMs such as America's FGM-148 Javelin [15] and Israel's Spike. [16]
DRDO started work on a man-portable version of the Nag missile in 2015. [17] Ministry of Defence (MoD) sanctioned the official development of the MPATGM on 27 January 2015 with probable completion date around 26 July 2018 at a cost of ₹73.46 crore. [18]
On 20 December 2017, India cancelled a major deal for acquiring the Israeli Spike (ATGM) in favour of the DRDO MPATGM, after deciding that no technology transfer was needed to develop the MPATGM. [15] However, India reauthorized the deal in January 2018 during a visit of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to India. [19] This deal was cancelled again in June 2019 after DRDO promised to deliver the MPATGM by 2021. [20] However, the Indian Army bought a limited number of Spike (ATGM) to cater for their immediate needs until the MPATGM is ready for induction. [16] MPATGM user trials were planned to be complete by 2020 but were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [21] On induction, the MPATGM will replace second generation MILAN and 9M113 Konkurs ATGMs with the infantry, parachute, and special forces.
In collaboration with Bharat Dynamics, the Indian defense startup Tonbo Imaging is developing a lightweight infrared seeker for MPATGM that does not require a cryogenic compressor. The seeker uses artificial intelligence-based image processing and real-time computing to assist the missile in orienting itself toward the most vulnerable area of a target. [22]
The MPATGM will be manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited at a facility located in Bhanoor, Telangana. This facility was inaugurated on 29 September 2018. [7] [23]
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