The Israeli `tank killers’ were ordered under emergency procurements last year due to the troop stand-off with China, which is yet to show any signs of de-escalation. The sheer utility of such weapons has been demonstrated during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Ukrainian troops armed with US-origin Javelin ATGMs and western next-generation light anti-tank light missiles (NLAWs) have destroyed hundreds of Russian tanks and other armoured vehicles since the conflict began on February 24.

The Israeli family of Spike ATGMs is equally lethal and versatile.

The Army is inducting the Spike LR-2launchers and missiles, which have a ground strike range of 5.5-km, while the IAF is integrating its Russian-origin Mi-17 V5 armed helicopters with Spike NLOS (non-line of sight) missiles that can destroy ground targets around 30-km away.

“Both the fifth-generation ATGMs are being inducted in limited numbers under emergency procurements to plug certain operational gaps. The much larger requirement for ATGMs will be met through `Make in India’ projects,” a top defence source said on Sunday.

“The pilot-controlled NLOS missiles, which can be armed with different kinds of warheads, are primarily meant for specialized ‘behind the hill’ missions by IAF helicopters,” he added.

The IAF, incidentally, has 22 Apache attack helicopters, armed with Stinger air-to-air missiles, Hellfire Longbow air-to-ground missiles, guns and rockets, inducted under the Rs 13,952 crore deal with the US in September 2015. The Army, in turn, is getting six Apaches under a Rs 5,691 crore deal in February 2020.

The Spike LR-2 missiles can be used with either a tandem HEAT (high explosive anti-tank) warhead, with 30% more armour-penetration capability, or a smart multi-purpose warhead.

The Army had earlier also inducted a limited number of an earlier generation of Spike tank-killers, with a strike range of 4-km, to meet immediate operational requirements till the indigenous man-portable ATGMs being developed by DRDO were ready.

With a huge deficiency in different kinds of shoulder, vehicle and helicopter-launched ATGMs, the Army has been demanding third and fourth-generation ATGMs for well over a decade.

The force’s existing inventory largely consists of second-generation Milan-2T (2-km range) and Konkurs (4-km) ATGMs, produced by defence PSU Bharat Dynamics under licence from French and Russian companies.

The indigenous helicopter-launched third-generation ATGMS, Helina for Army and Dhruvastra for IAF with a maximum strike range of 8-km, have been successfully tested from Dhruv advanced light helicopters but are yet to be inducted till now.

Similarly, DRDO tested the man-portable ATGM, with a 2.5-km strike range, in its “final deliverable configuration” in January this year. But it is still some time away from induction.

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A DRDO & Larsen and Toubro light tank is currently under fabrication, based on the chassis of DRDO’s Next Generation Main Battle Tank (NGMBT) and the rollout of the first prototype is likely to happen in 2023.

This will also strengthen the DRDO’s proposal  to develop the Next Generation Main Battle Tank (NGMBT) to meet the Indian Army’s requirement for 1,770 Next Generation Main Battle Tank (NGMBT) under Future Ready Combat Vehicles (FRCV) program.

Talks have already started that the Next Generation Main Battle Tank will be manufactured through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) under a public Private partnership model which has been adopted for the development of the 5.5 generation AMCA and Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH).

Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet technology successfully tested

DRDO successfully flight tested Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) booster at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha on 8 April 2022. The test successfully demonstrated the reliable functioning of all critical components involved in the complex missile system and met all the mission objectives. 

The SFDR-based propulsion enables the missile to intercept aerial threats at very long range at supersonic speeds. The performance of the system has been confirmed from the data captured by a number of range instruments like Telemetry, Radar and Electro Optical Tracking Systems deployed by ITR. The SFDR has been developed by Defence Research and Development Laboratory, Hyderabad in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories such as Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune.

Short Range Naval Anti-Ship Missile (NASM-SR) Ready

DRDO was in the process of developing a Naval Antishipping Missile Short Range (NASM-SR) with an estimated range of 55 km for use from Sea King helicopters and eventually equip the MH-60R helicopters. This project is possibly being developed for a number of platforms, having different ranges. ‘SR’, or Short Range, means that development of other longer range versions is expected as well.

According to DRDO, the NASM-SR will be a 380 kg projectile with a maximum range of 55 km and used initially with Indian Navy Sea King helicopters, replacing the earlier Sea Eagle missiles. As the Sea King itself is approaching the end of its service life, it may be expected that the new indigenous missile will be in service with future helicopters of the Navy.

The American made MH-60R helicopters is due to arrive in July 2022 which is a multi-role platform and these are slated to be equipped with Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile. Further, for the Indian Navy’s IMRH acquisition, MBDA pitched its Sea Venom which has a range of 25 km and also the Marte-ER which can reach more than 100 km.

The NASM-SR could be considered for these potent platforms. The long range version of the NASM may have a range excess of 150 km, enabling engagement of hostile targets from stand-off distances.

The Indian Navy is also in the market for new medium range anti-ship missiles (MRAShM) for 24 current and future warships as detailed by Livefist — three Delhi-class destroyers, four Kora-class missile corvettes and the six new Next Generation Missile Vessels (NGMV) that will enter service in the next decade. The other anti-ship missiles currently in service with the Indian Navy are Boeing Harpoon Block-IIIs on the P-8I Poseidon fleet.

Long Range Pinaka missile system Tested

A new version of the Pinaka rocket system has been successfully flight-tested by the DRDO and the Indian Army at the Pokhran firing ranges, the defence ministry said on 9 April. As many as 24 Pinaka Mk-I Enhanced Rocket Systems were fired for different ranges during the last fortnight and the weapons met the required accuracy and consistency, it said.

The EPRS is the upgraded version of the Pinaka variant that has been in service with the Indian Army for the last decade. The ministry said the rocket system has been upgraded with advanced technologies enhancing the range to meet the emerging requirements.

With these trials, the initial phase of technology absorption of EPRS by the industry has successfully been completed and the industry partners are ready for user trials/series production of the rocket system.

The Pinaka rocket system has been developed by Armament Research and Development Establishment, Pune, supported by High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, another Pune-based laboratory of the DRDO.

After establishing the performance efficacy of the enhanced range version of Pinaka, the technology was transferred to Munitions India Limited MIL and Economic Explosives Limited, Nagpur.

Anti-Tank Guided Missile ‘HELINA’ successfully flight tested

Indigenously developed helicopter launched Anti-Tank Guided Missile ‘HELINA’ was successfully flight tested on April 11, 2022 at high-altitude ranges as part of user validation trials. The flight-test was jointly conducted by the teams of scientists from Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Indian Army and Indian Air Force (IAF).

The anti-tank missile was tested again next day, this time in the northern high altitude mountain regions after its successful test on Monday in the desert regions of Pokhran.

The flight trials were conducted from an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and the missile was fired successfully engaging simulated tank target. The missile is guided by an Imaging Infra-Red (IIR) Seeker operating in the Lock on Before Launch mode.

It is one of the most advanced anti-tank weapons in the world. In continuation to validation trials conducted at Pokhran in Rajasthan, proof of efficacy at high altitudes paves the way for its integration on the ALH. The trials were witnessed by senior Army commanders and senior scientists of the DRDO.

With the flight test, consistent performance of the complete system, including Imaging Infra-Red Seeker, has been established, which will enable the induction of the ‘Helina’ into the armed forces,” said a press statement from the Ministry of Defence on 12 April.

DRDO has said that the Helina missile system has all weather day and night capability and can defeat battle tanks with conventional armour as well as explosive reactive armour. It has been developed for integration with choppers in both the Army and Air Force.

Indo-Israeli Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile Tested Twice

India successfully conducted twin tests of Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) from a defence facility off Odisha coast on 27 March 2022 demonstrating the system’s high killing efficiency against high-speed aerial targets.

The network-centric and most advanced sleek missile has been developed by DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in collaboration with public and private sector enterprises.

The MRSAM-Army system intercepted unmanned aerial vehicles and destroyed them completely achieving direct hits at both long and short ranges. The missile intercepted the target in medium altitude at long range during the first trial and destroyed another target in low altitude at short range during second trial.

With a strike range of nearly 100 km, the 4.5-meter long supersonic quick reaction missile weighs around 2.7 tonne and can carry a payload of 60 kg. Travelling at a speed of Mach 2, it can achieve high degrees of manoeuvrability at the terminal phase.

Each MRSAM unit comprises one command and control system, multi functional surveillance tracking radar, threat alert radar, mobile launcher, combat management system, mobile power and radar power systems apart from the missile.

The next generation weapon system has been developed with cutting-edge technology to neutralise airborne threats like jets, subsonic and supersonic cruise missiles, anti tank systems and rockets.

One of the variants of MRSAM system has already been handed over to Indian Air Force (IAF). The missile is designed to provide point and area air defence for ground assets against a wide range of threats.

Air-launched BrahMos hits targets 800 km away

India is developing a new air-launched version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile which would be able to strike at enemy targets at more than 800 kilometres.

India has enhanced the range of the tactical missile recently, and it can go beyond 500 kilometres with just an upgrade in its software.

The Indian Air Force has equipped around 40 of its Su-30 combat aircraft with the BrahMos cruise missiles, which can cause heavy destruction in enemy camps.

BrahMos was also successfully test-fired in the Andaman and Nicobar, on 23 March.

Earlier in March, the Indian Navy had successfully demonstrated the accuracy of an extended-range land-attack Brahmos supersonic cruise missile from the stealth destroyer INS Chennai.

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The copter, which is called the ALH Mark-IV version and is known by its military name ‘Rudra’, was used in Eastern Ladakh during the stand-off with China. The IAF has one squadron of 14 to 16 copters and is looking to get at least three more squadrons. The Army also operates the ‘Rudra’.

A senior functionary told The Tribune that “more Rudra are being purchased and a case is being moved to the Ministry of Defence”. The copter did “very well” in the sub-sector north (SSN) — the military name for high-altitude plateau and sensitive Depsang plateau in Northern Ladakh, the functionary added. Helipads in these locations are at an altitude of more than 15,000 ft.

Produced by state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the copters are adapted for high altitudes and powered by ‘shakti engines’ that can take it to 20,000 ft. The engine is designed and made under a joint venture between Safran of France and the HAL.

The weapon fitment on ALH Mk-IV includes a 20 mm turret gun, 70 mm rocket pods and air-to-air missile. The copter is expected to be equipped with the newly made anti-tank missile, Helina.

The copter can be used for anti-tank warfare and close air support for ground troops. The maximum take-off weight of the helicopter is 5,500 kg and it can carry a payload of 2,600 kg.

The helicopter has multifunctional displays and an automatic flight control system for pilots.

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The anti-tank missile was tested again next day, this time in the northern high altitude mountain regions after its successful test on Monday in the desert regions of Pokhran.

The flight trials were conducted from an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and the missile was fired successfully engaging simulated tank target. The missile is guided by an Imaging Infra-Red (IIR) Seeker operating in the Lock on Before Launch mode. It is one of the most advanced anti-tank weapons in the world.

In continuation to validation trials conducted at Pokhran in Rajasthan, proof of efficacy at high altitudes paves the way for its integration on the ALH. The trials were witnessed by senior Army commanders and senior scientists of the DRDO.

With the flight test, consistent performance of the complete system, including Imaging Infra-Red Seeker, has been established, which will enable the induction of the ‘Helina’ into the armed forces,” said a press statement from the Ministry of Defence on 12 April.

DRDO has said that the Helina missile system has all weather day and night capability and can defeat battle tanks with conventional armour as well as explosive reactive armour. It has been developed for integration with choppers in both the Army and Air Force.

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India, on 18 December, successfully India successfully tested nuclear-capable ballistic missile ‘Agni P’, a two-stage canisterised solid propellant ballistic missile with dual redundant navigation and guidance system.

The test was carried out from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast. “Various telemetry, radar, electro-optical stations and downrange ships positioned along the eastern coast tracked and monitored the missile trajectory and parameters. The missile followed textbook trajectory, meeting all mission objectives with a high level of accuracy,” the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said in a statement.

This second flight-test has proven the reliable performance of all the advanced technologies integrated into the system, it said.

The surface-to-surface ballistic missile has a range of 1,000 to 2,000 km.

DRDO Tests Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile

The DRDO, on 11 January, successfully flight tested the final deliverable configuration of the Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM). The indigenously developed anti-tank missile is a low weight, ‘fire and forget’ missile and is launched from a man portable launcher, integrated with thermal sight.

During the test, which was conducted at a range in Southern India, the missile impacted the designated target with precision and destroyed it. The final impact event was captured on camera. The purpose of this particular test was to prove the consistent performance for the missile system at its minimum range.

Because of the strategic importance of tanks and armoured vehicles in modern day battlefields since World War I, the development of ammunition that can beat the armour of tanks and the development of armour that would withstand anti-armour ammo has been an ongoing race since then.

While the Indian Army has been mainly using various imported anti-tank guided missiles in the past, the DRDO has been working on ATGMs to be launched from different platforms as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.

The indigenously developed MPATGM, ATGM Nag and Helicopter launched ATGM Nag or Helina have been successfully tested in the recent past under various conditions. In a related development, the Indian government, in December 2019, procured Anti Tank Spike missiles from Israel along with the allied systems to meet operational requirements of the Indian Army.

Helicopter-launched stand-off anti-tank missile Tested

India, on 11 December, successfully flight-tested indigenously developed helicopter-launched stand-off anti-tank (SANT) missile in Rajasthan’s Pokhran firing ranges. The weapon, developed for the IAF, can neutralise targets in a range up to 10 km.

The defence ministry said the flight-testing, carried out by the DRDO and the Indian Air Force, was “successful” in meeting all the mission objectives of the missile.

“The flight-test was successful in meeting all its mission objectives. The release mechanism, advanced guidance and tracking algorithms, all avionics with integrated software, performed satisfactorily and tracking systems monitored all mission events,” it said.

The ministry said the missile is equipped with a state-of-the-art MMW seeker which provides high precision strike capability from a safe distance.

The SANT missile has been designed and developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad. in coordination with other DRDO labs and participation from industries.

“This is the third in the series of indigenous stand-off weapons to be tested in recent times after long-range bomb and smart anti airfield weapon for strengthening the arsenal of IAF,” the ministry said in a statement.

Indigenous Brahmos Supersonic Cruise Missile Tested 

India, on 11 January, successfully test-fired the indigenously designed and manufactured Brahmos supersonic cruise missile.  It was a validation test of the naval variant of the missile jointly manufactured by Russia and India. The missile was fired from a stealth guided-missile destroyer.  The DRDO said the missile hit the designated target “precisely”.

BrahMos Aerospace, the first India-Russian joint venture, produces the supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms.

BrahMos missile flies at a speed of 2.8 Mach or almost three times the speed of sound. The Army and Navy have already inducted the highly versatile missile.

Given the effectiveness of the missile capable of hitting targets at a range of more than 350 kms, operational commanders have deployed the Brahmos at various critical points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) facing China.

Flight demonstration of Controlled Aerial Delivery System

The DRDO has conducted a flight demonstration of its controlled aerial delivery system having the capability to deliver 500 kilograms of payload. The demonstration was carried out by the DRDO’s Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) in Agra on 18 December.

The Controlled Aerial Delivery System of 500-kilogram capacity (CADS-500) is used for precise delivery of payloads up to 500 kilograms at a predetermined location by making use of manoeuvrable capabilities of Ram Air Parachute (RAP).

The CADS, with its onboard electronics unit, autonomously steers its flight path using waypoint navigation towards target location by operating controls, it said in a statement.

Survival Kit For Troops in Extreme Cold Areas

The DRDO, on December 27, handed over technology for making extreme cold weather clothing to five Indian companies. The Extreme Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS) is meant for troops operating at the limits of human endurance in high altitude areas and provides thermal protection against temperatures as low as Minus 50 degrees Celsius.

The DRDO designed ECWCS is an ergonomically designed modular technical clothing with improved thermal insulation and physiological comfort based on the insulation required at various ambient climatic conditions in Himalayan regions during different levels of physical activity.

“The ECWCS embodies physiological concepts related to reduction in respiratory heat and water loss, unhindered range of motions and rapid absorption of sweat while providing water proof, wind proof features with adequate breathability and enhanced insulation as well as strength features required for high altitude operations,” a Ministry of Defence statement said.

“The three layered ECWCS is designed to suitably provide thermal insulation over a temperature range of +15 to -50° Celsius with different combinations of the layers and intensity of physical work,” it elaborated. The layered clothing reduces the requirement for different combinations to provide for widely fluctuating weather conditions on the Himalayan peaks.

Electronics and Communication Systems Transferred to Industry

Secretary DD R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr G Satheesh Reddy, handed over three products developed by MED & CoS Cluster of DRDO to user laboratories on 16 December. He also handed over four Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreements to public and private sector companies.

The GaN process development kit has been released for MMIC designers to enable them to design indigenous GaN MMICs for various frequencies upto X-band. The devices can be manufactured at GAETEC.

Secretary DD R&D handed over High-g MEMS Switch, UHF 1kW High Power Amplifier  and X band Power Amplifier to user laboratories. He also handed over SSPL developed technology of 0.5W Stirling Cryo-cooler for Integrated Detector Dewar Cooler Assembly (IDDCA) to Bharat Electronics Limited.

Technology document of 10W laser diode chip fabrication technology and X-band GaN HEMT MMIC  was handed over to GAETEC. Technology document for HgCdTe based DDCA was handed over to STAR-C.

The technology of Acoustic Emission (AE) Sensors, AE Data Acquisition & Analysis System was handed over to industry. The sensors and the system will be used for site specific snow avalanche monitoring/prediction.

Building upon the existing security matrix, Secretary, DD R&D handed over CAIR developed INDIGIS, a Geographical Information System to industry. Secure mobile handset to facilitate secure transmission of voice and instant messaging over 4G cellular networks for usage in sensitive environment was launched.

Reliable and secure key transfer Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) at a distance over 100 km using commercial telecom optical fiber link was announced.

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There are two versions of the missile: the army version is called Helina, while the Indian Air Force (IAF) version is called Dhruvastra. Their specifications remain identical, but they are named differently since the army and IAF are pursuing them as separate projects. Both are designed to be launched from the Rudra – the armed variant of the indigenous Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH). They can strike and set afire enemy tanks at ranges between 500 metres and seven kilometres.

Joint user trials of Army version Helina and Air Force version Dhruvastra missile systems were carried out from advanced light helicopter (ALH) platform.

Five missions were carried out for evaluating the capabilities of the missiles in minimum and maximum range. Indigenously developed by DRDO, the missiles were fired in hover and max forward flight against realistic static and moving targets. A couple of missions were carried out with warheads against derelict tanks. A mission was also carried out against a moving target from a forward flying helicopter.

The first stage of the missile’s development was for the army as a vehicle-mounted ATGM called Nag, which was carried on a modified BMP-2 armoured carrier called the NAMICA (Nag Missile Carrier). However, this has a maximum range of only four kilometres and the army asked for this to be developed further into a longer-range missile that could be fired from a helicopter. The result was the Helina – or helicopter-mounted Nag.

The system, which operates on fire and forget mode, has all weather day and night capability. The weapon system can defeat battle tanks with conventional armour as well as with explosive reactive armour. The missile will equip the weaponised version of the ALH Dhruv, HAL built combat helicopter Rudra and light combat helicopter (LCH).

The Helina and Dhruvastra are officially classified as third generation, Lock on Before Launch (LOBL), fire and forget ATGMs. That means that the missile pilot locks her sight cross-hairs onto the target before launching the missile, after which the missile finds its own way to the target. The missile can be programmed to strike the target in one of two ways – direct  hit mode, or else in top attack mode, where it dives down and strikes the tank on the upper part of the turret, where armour protection is thinnest. 

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Developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the anti-tank guided missile meant to be launched from a helicopter was flight-tested from a static launcher positioned at Integrated Test Range (ITR) under simulated conditions on July 15 and 16.

HeliNa has been named after the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv, which will be equipped with the missile. Fitted with imaging Infra-Red seeker, Dhruvastra operates in ‘lock-on before launch mode’.

A defence official said the missile was test-fired from a ground-based launcher as a mandatory requirement with respect to safety. The missile would soon be tested from the ALH after a couple of more trials from the ground-based launcher.

Dhruvastra can be fired in two different modes – direct attack and top attack. Eight missiles can be integrated with the helicopter with four twin launchers specially designed for the weapon. Several trials of the third generation missile that operates on ‘fire and forget’ principle have been conducted from both the ITR and Pokhran firing ranges.

The missile can be launched from twin-tube stub wing-mounted launchers on board the armed light combat helicopters and advanced light helicopters. While Nag missile has a maximum range of 4 km, the HeliNa has an extended strike range of about 8 km.

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