SOURCE: AFI
A recently surfaced video has provided a glimpse into the ongoing advancements in India’s indigenous defense technology, showcasing the successful safe ejection trial of the Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) from both hardpoints of the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) Archer Short Range Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-Weaponised (SRUAV-W). This milestone marks a significant step forward in the development of the Archer SRUAV-W, a tactical unmanned aerial vehicle designed to enhance India’s battlefield capabilities through precision strikes and intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions.
The Archer SRUAV-W, developed by ADE under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is an advanced derivative of the Rustom-1 tactical UAV. It has been extensively modified to serve as a weaponized platform capable of carrying out armed missions. The Archer is designed to operate at altitudes of up to 22,000 feet with an endurance of 12 hours, making it a versatile asset for military operations. Equipped with electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) payloads, the UAV can gather real-time, high-quality imagery, providing critical situational awareness on the battlefield.
The Archer SRUAV-W project aims to cater to the needs of the Indian Army and paramilitary forces by offering a platform capable of delivering precision-guided munitions, such as anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) and anti-personnel missiles. The integration of the MPATGM into the Archer’s arsenal further enhances its strike capabilities, enabling it to engage armored targets with pinpoint accuracy.
The integration of the MPATGM with the Archer SRUAV-W expands the missile’s operational envelope, enabling it to be launched from unmanned aerial platforms to engage targets beyond the line of sight of ground-based operators. This capability is particularly valuable in modern warfare, where rapid response and precision strikes are critical to maintaining battlefield dominance.
The newly released video captures a pivotal moment in the Archer SRUAV-W’s development: the safe ejection trial of the MPATGM from both hardpoints of the UAV. Conducted under controlled conditions, the trial demonstrates the platform’s ability to carry and release the missile without compromising its flight stability or safety. The successful ejection from both hardpoints—a critical requirement for ensuring redundancy and operational flexibility—validates the structural integrity of the Archer’s weapon integration system and paves the way for more complex live-fire tests in the future.
In the video, the Archer SRUAV-W is seen flying at a steady altitude before initiating the ejection sequence. The MPATGM is released cleanly from one hardpoint, followed by a similar release from the second hardpoint, with the UAV maintaining its flight path throughout the process. The trial highlights the robustness of the Archer’s design and the precision engineering involved in integrating the MPATGM with an aerial platform.
The successful safe ejection trial of the MPATGM from the Archer SRUAV-W has significant implications for the Indian Armed Forces. The ability to deploy anti-tank missiles from an unmanned aerial platform enhances the military’s capacity to conduct precision strikes against enemy armor in diverse scenarios, including high-intensity conflicts and counter-insurgency operations. The Archer’s long endurance and altitude capabilities allow it to operate in contested environments, providing commanders with real-time intelligence and the ability to engage targets at a safe standoff distance.
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