India Successfully Tests - Two Missiles Long Under Development

The DRDO has been rapidly validating its long-pending missile projects such as the Nag ATGM and the QR-SAM to enable the Indian Armed Forces to fight better and defend more efficiently. A Geopolitics report

India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has had successes in two missile systems that have been under development for a long time. It tested the Nag Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) and the Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QR-SAM) in quick succession in June and July this year, demonstrating its growing Research and Development capabilities.

The Nag ATGM was tested on June 13 in Rajastan's Pokhran desert weapon field firing test range. The missile tested this time was a third generation ATGM in the 'Fire and Forget' mode, which incorporated many advanced technologies including the Imaging Infrared Radar (IIR) Seeker with integrated avionics, a capability possessed by just a few nations in the world. The IIR Seeker, developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI), a Hyderabad based DRDO lab, mainly guides the missile to the target.

The main purpose of test was to validate Thermal Target System (TTS), developed by Defence laboratory at Jodhpur, which simulated a target like an operational tank generating thermal signature. With this successful test, the Nag missile is now ready for final and pre-induction user trials.

The Ministry of Defence said the capabilities of the top-attack Nag ATGM is unique and its mission was to successfully destroy the intended target. The test was carried out by DRDO scientists of the Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Missile Complex based in Hyderabad, Defence Laboratory of Jodhpur, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) and Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), both based at Pune. Also, the ground systems were developed by the Ordnance Factory Board, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T).