Nag anti-tank missile to undergo climax trials next week

New Delhi, July 20 (PTI) After a string of successful
missile tests, India will undertake the climax trials of its
indigenous third generation anti-tank missile 'Nag' next week.

The 'fire and forget' anti-tank missile, named after the
King of snakes, Cobra, would undergo its final baptism trials
for two days next week in the Pokhran desert, almost 22 years
after it was first conceived, D.R.D.O. (Defence Research and
Development organisation) officials said.

Seven missiles would be fired against static and moving
targets for 48 hours starting July 27 to test the land version
of the weapon, which its makers the D.R.D.O., claim can defeat
any futuristic battle tank over a range of four kms.

"User trials by the army would come close on the heels of
the Pokhran trials," officials told PTI exuding confidence
that the country's first ever such weapon would be inducted in
large numbers by November-December this year.

Army needs these missiles in large numbers which is
evident by acquisition of 4,000 Anti-Tank Guided Missiles
recently from Russia and France.

Now the forces are about to float new tenders to induct
another 4,000 such missiles and DRDO expects the indigenous
Nag to be on top of the contention.

Nag, is the last of the five missile systems
successfully developed by the DRDO under the Integrated Guided
Missile Development Programme (I.G.M.D.P.).

The other four Surface-to-Surface Prithvi and Agni
series of missiles as well as Surface-to-Air Akash are in the
process of induction. About Trishul multi-mission
missile, D.R.D.O. says development trials are already over.

Henceforth, D.R.D.O. says it will only work on strategic
long range nuclear capable missiles like Agni-III with a range
of more than 4,000 kilometres and developing a submarine
launched missile.

For the rest, the state owned weapons developing agency
says, it will look for foreign collaboration in other weapon's
projects to cut down on delays and take advantage of frontline
technology.

The long delay on the 'Nag' is attributed by defence
scientists to problems with its Imaging Infra Red guidance
system due to technology denial by advanced nations.

However, top D.R.D.O. scientists now say the missile
which has a complete fibreglass structure is ready to become
fully operational.

They say the 'Nag' missiles ready for climax trials are
superior in terms of range to the Javelin of the U.S. and
Spike of the Israel.

Army has places orders for 443 'Nag' missiles and 13
Namicas, the tracked launchers of these missiles for induction
over the next three years.

These carriers, a modified version of the Infantry Combat
Vehicles BMP-2 (ICV), are capable of carrying four-ready-to
fire missiles in the launch platform and to store twelve more
missiles.

D.R.D.O. scientists, have begun work on developing Air
force version of the missiles which would be called 'Helina'.
It would be mounted on the indigenous Advanced Light
Helicopters (ALH).

The air borne version of the Nag would have an extended
range of eight kilometres and would be ready in two-and-half
years, the officials said.

They said the new version of 'Nag' had operational day and
night capability and its lethality had been increased to
enable it to carry one of the most powerful tandem warheads.

The indigenous missiles would have a ten year
maintenance-free shelf life.

'Nag' uses imaging infra-red guidance and an IIR seeker
with a capability of lock-on before launch.

Though they were tight-lipped on the costs, sources said
the 'Nag' missiles had been developed at a cost of Rs 300
crores.