Helina and Dhruvastra: Anti-tank Guided Missile | 20 Feb 2021

Why in News

Recently, India has successfully test-fired indigenously-developed anti-tank guided missile systems ‘Helina’ and ‘Dhruvastra’ in the Pokhran range, Thar desert (Rajasthan).

Key Points

  • About:
    • The Helina (the Army version) and Dhruvastra (Indian Airforce version) are helicopter-launched versions of third-generation anti-tank guided missiles (the Nag missile system).
    • The missile system has all-weather day-and-night capability and can defeat battle tanks with conventional armor and explosive reactive armor.
  • Indigenous:
  • Operations:
    • The ‘Helina’ and ‘Dhruvastra’ can engage targets both in direct hit mode as well as top attack mode.
      • 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.
      • Direct Attack Mode: The missile travels at a lower altitude, directly striking the target.

Nag Missile

  • Nag is a third-generation, fire-and-forget, anti-tank guided missile developed by DRDO to support both mechanized infantry and airborne forces of the Indian Army.
  • It is an all-weather condition with day and night capabilities and with a minimum range of 500m and a maximum range of 4 km.
  • Nag can be launched from land and air-based platforms. The land version is currently available for integration on the Nag missile carrier (NAMICA).
  • DRDO has developed nag Missiles under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program.

IGMDP (Integrated Guided Missile Development Program)

  • It was conceived by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to enable India to 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 five 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 (I, II, III, IV, V).
    • Trishul: Short-range low-level surface to air missile.
    • Nag: 3rd generation anti-tank missile.
    • Akash: Medium range surface to air missile.

Source: PIB