India tests manportable anti-tank guided missile

India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted additional test-firings of its Man Portable Anti‐Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) on 11 January.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) in New Delhi said the tests evaluated the “final deliverable configuration” of the MPATGM, indicating that it may soon enter production phase.

The MoD also said that the test validated performance over minimum range and that all mission objectives were met. The missile's maximum range performance was proven in earlier tests, which have been under way for several years, the MoD added.

Janes has previously reported that the MPATGM, which has been developed by the DRDO in partnership with local firm VEM Technologies, is one of several Indian weapons programmes that were endorsed by the DRDO in 2016. However, it is believed that design work for the system began in 2015.

The MoD described the MPATGM as a low-weight, fire-and-forget missile launched from a manportable launcher integrated with a thermal sight. It said the system uses a miniaturised infrared imaging seeker and advanced avionics for onboard control and guidance.

The MPATGM is a third-generation manportable weapon. According to Janes Weapons: Infantry, the MPATGM consists of a tripod-mounted command and launch unit (CLU), is housed in a launch tube assembly (LTA), and needs two people to operate.

The MPATGM weighs 14.5 kg, is 1.34 m in length, and 120 mm in diameter. The CLU weighs 14.25 kg.

The front section of the MPATGM houses a precursor shaped charge behind the guidance module. The main shaped charge warhead sits behind the front section. Its maximum and minimum ranges are 2.5 km and 200 m, respectively, and the time of flight to the maximum range is 17 seconds.