Second successful high-altitude flight-test of Indian Dhruvastra HELINA ATGM Anti-Tank Guided Missile

Defense News April 2022 Global Security army industry
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The Indian Ministry of Defense announces that, as part of the ongoing user validation trials, the indigenously-developed Nag Anti-Tank Guided Missile HELINA was again successfully flight-tested from Advanced Light Helicopter on April 12, 2022. Teams of the Indian Air Force and Indian Army, along with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), conducted the trial at the high altitude range. This is the second successful flight test in successive days.
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The HELINA ATGM is meant to support both the airborne forces of the Indian Army as well as the mechanized infantry. It has been designed such that it can be launched from land and air-based platforms.  (Picture source: DRDO)

On April 12, the live-fire test was carried out for different ranges and altitudes. As per the plan, the missile engaged the simulated tank target accurately. The trials were witnessed by senior Army Commanders and scientists of 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. Earlier, validation trials of the ‘Helina’ were conducted at Pokhran in Rajasthan, which proved the efficacy of the missile in desert ranges.

‘Helina’ is the third generation, fire and forget Anti-Tank Guided Missile that can engage targets both in direct hit mode as well as top attack mode. The system has all-weather day and night capability and can defeat battle tanks with conventional armor as well as with explosive reactive armor.

This is categorized as the third-generation, fire-and-forget, anti-tank guided missile. And is meant to support both the airborne forces of the Indian Army as well as the mechanized infantry. It has been designed such that it can be launched from land and air-based platforms. The land version of this missile is already available for integration with the Nag missile carrier (NAMICA). The missile in the helicopter-launched configuration has been designated as Helicopter-launched NAG (HELINA). Once the trials are over successfully, this can be fired from the indigenous `Dhruv’ Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), as well as Rudra (ALH WSI) attack helicopter. Both these helicopters are made in India by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).