13 February 2023
Aero India 2023: DRDO plans lightweight MPATGM
by Kapil Kajal
The DRDO is designing a lightweight manportable anti-tank guided missile (MPATGM) for the Indian Army. The MPATGM, in its current form, weighs 14.5 kg. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)
India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is designing a lightweight manportable anti-tank guided missile (MPATGM) for the Indian Army, a DRDO official told Janes at the Aero India 2023 show, which is being held in Bangalore from 13 to 17 February.
The official said that the development of MPATGM is not completed because of its weight. “We [DRDO] are looking at lowering the weight of MPATGM. Since it is manportable, its weight causes a lot of problems.”
The technology and design of the lightweight MPATGM is already decided, and will take at least 2–3 years to develop, the official added.
The official said that the organisation seeks to reduce the weight of the MPATGM by 10–30%. The MPATGM, in its current form, weighs 14.5 kg. It is a “third-generation” anti-tank missile, which has a length of 1,300 mm and a diametre of 120 mm.
According to Janes Weapons: Infantry , the missile's command launch unit (CLU) – consisting of a target acquisition system and a command control unit – weighs 14.25 kg. The fire-and-forget missile is equipped with a mid-wave infrared direct drive seeker and fired in lock-on before launch mode, and can engage a target in direct or top attack approaches.
The MPATGM is fitted with an anti-armour tandem warhead and externally features folded wings behind the main warhead and four folding control fins at the rear activated through the control actuation system. An onboard powerpack is situated mid-body between the warhead and rocket motor.
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India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is designing a lightweight manportable ...
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