SOURCE: AFI
The Indian Army’s anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) inventory is at a critical juncture. While the Army continues to rely heavily on its ageing stock of 2nd-generation ATGMs, several locally developed 3rd-generation systems—both from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and private sector companies—are reaching maturity.
These indigenous 3rd-gen ATGMs offer superior capabilities, such as fire-and-forget technology, greater range, and enhanced penetration against modern armor. Yet, despite their readiness and potential, the Army appears reluctant to transition fully to these advanced alternatives, opting instead to procure more 2nd-gen systems, often through local license of imported systems.
The Indian Army’s ATGM arsenal is predominantly composed of 2nd-generation systems like the Milan-2T and Konkurs-M, both of which are produced under license by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL). These missiles, while reliable in their time, rely on semi-automatic command-to-line-of-sight (SACLOS) guidance, requiring the operator to keep the target in sight until impact. This exposes the operator to enemy counterfire and limits effectiveness against fast-moving or heavily armored targets equipped with modern countermeasures.
In contrast, 3rd-generation ATGMs offer fire-and-forget capabilities, typically using imaging infrared (IIR) seekers that allow the missile to autonomously track and hit targets after launch. These systems also provide top-attack modes, enabling them to strike tanks at their most vulnerable points, and boast greater range and penetration power. Despite these advantages, the Army’s inventory of 3rd-gen ATGMs remains limited, with only a small number of imported systems like the Israeli Spike-LR in service, procured to meet immediate operational needs along sensitive borders.
Indigenous 3rd-Gen ATGMs: A Growing Arsenal
India has made significant strides in developing its own 3rd-gen ATGMs, with contributions from both government entities like DRDO and private sector companies. These systems are designed to meet the Army’s requirements while reducing dependency on imports—a key goal of the Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative. Below is a comprehensive list of 3rd-gen ATGMs developed in India:
Developed by DRDO and Associated Government Entities
- Nag Missile (Ground-Launched Variants)
- Developer: DRDO, manufactured by BDL
- Status: Ready for production
- Specifications: Fire-and-forget, top-attack capability, IIR seeker, range of 500 m to 4 km for land-based versions, single-shot hit probability of 90%.
- Details: The Nag missile, developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), has been tested extensively in desert conditions and night operations. The Nag Missile Carrier (NAMICA), a modified BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle, can deploy multiple Nag missiles. The system completed its final user trials in 2020 and is awaiting large-scale induction.
- Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM)
- Developer: DRDO, in collaboration with VEM Technologies
- Status: Undergoing final user trials
- Specifications: Fire-and-forget, IIR seeker, range of 200 m to 4 km, weight around 14.5 kg, top-attack and direct-attack modes.
- Details: The MPATGM is a lightweight, tripod-launched missile designed for infantry and special forces. It has undergone multiple successful trials since 2018, with recent tests in 2024 at Pokhran demonstrating its ability to penetrate modern armor. The system is poised to replace the Milan and Konkurs in the Army’s inventory.
- HELINA (Helicopter-Launched Nag)
- Developer: DRDO
- Status: Successfully tested, nearing induction
- Specifications: Fire-and-forget, IIR seeker, range of 7–8 km, designed for integration with helicopters like the HAL Rudra and Prachand.
- Details: HELINA, also known as Dhruvastra for the Air Force version, provides a stand-off capability to engage tanks in rugged terrain. Its trials in 2021 demonstrated day-and-night operability and penetration of thick armor.
- SANT (Stand-off Anti-Tank Missile)
- Developer: DRDO
- Status: Under development
- Specifications: Fire-and-forget, millimetre-wave seeker, range of 15–20 km, designed for air-to-ground roles.
- Details: The SANT missile is intended for use by the Indian Air Force and Navy, offering extended range and precision against armored targets. Successful test-firings have been conducted from MiG-29 and Hawk aircraft.
- 5 Amogha-III
- Developer: Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), a public sector undertaking with private sector collaboration
- Status: Successfully test-fired, awaiting user trials
- Specifications: Fire-and-forget, IIR seeker, range of 200 m to 2.5 km, top-attack capability.
- Details: The Amogha-III, developed as a man-portable ATGM, was successfully tested in 2023. It is comparable to global systems like the US Javelin and Israeli Spike, with a focus on lightweight design for infantry use.
Developed by Private Sector Companies
- AsiBal (Advanced Anti-Tank Missile)
- Developer: VEM Technologies (private sector)
- Status: Undergoing trials
- Specifications: Fire-and-forget, IIR seeker, range up to 4 km, lightweight design for infantry.
- Details: VEM Technologies, a Hyderabad-based firm, has been working on AsiBal as a private venture. While still in the trial phase, it aims to compete with DRDO’s MPATGM and offers similar capabilities tailored for export markets as well.
The Indian Army must accelerate the induction of 3rd-gen ATGMs to modernize its anti-tank capabilities. While operational urgency justifies limited imports, a clear roadmap should prioritize indigenous systems. The Army could adopt a phased approach—inducting small batches of Nag, MPATGM, and Amogha-III for operational testing while scaling up production capacity. Collaboration between DRDO, private firms, and the Army needs to be streamlined to address concerns about reliability and ensure rapid deployment.
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