On 11th April 2022, Monday, Indigenously developed helicopter launched Anti-Tank Guided Missile ‘HELINA’ was successfully flight tested at high-altitude ranges as part of user validation trials. The flight trials were conducted from an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and the missile was fired successfully engaging simulated tank target.
About the news
India has successfully test fired the anti tank guided missile(a helicopter based version of Nag Missile) named as Helina from chopper in Pokhran desert ranges , Rajasthan . The test was part of user validation trials of the the third generation “Fire and Forget” class missiles developed by DRDO. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO and the Indian Army for the maiden achievement through joint work.
As part of the ongoing user validation trials, indigenously-developed ATGM ‘HELINA’ was again successfully flight-tested from ALH today. Teams of IAF and Indian Army, along with #DRDO, conducted the trial at high altitude range. https://t.co/gqZJxCcBEJ@SpokespersonMoD @PIB_India pic.twitter.com/xTpLYRu2HQ
— PRO, Hyderabad, Ministry of Defence (@dprohyd) April 12, 2022
Key points
- Helina is an anti tank guided missile (ATGM)
- The Helina Missile is guided by an Infrared Imaging Seeker (IIR) .
- This missile operates in the “Lock on Before launch’ Mode.
- This missile was launched from an advanced light weight helicopter.
- This test was jointly conducted by the teams of scientists of DRDO, Indian Army and Indian Airforce
- The Helina Missile is developed by DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation ).
Related Stories
- Safran & HAL signed agreement to build Helicopter Engines
- NTPC’s Floating Solar Project of 100 MW in Telangana
- Virat Swaroop – CM Khattar unveil 40ft Lord Krishna Statue
- MoU on Space Cooperation signed by India & Mexico during FOC
- Posidonia Australis – Biggest Plant in World | Length 180 km
- Current Affairs Today : Current Affairs and Gk 2022
About Helina Missile
Helina (Helicopter based NAG) is a fire-and-forget ,third generation anti tank guided missile which works on Infrared Imaging Seeker Technology. HELINA has been designed and developed indigenously by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Helina system has all-weather day and night capability and can knock out enemy tanks with conventional and explosive reactive armour. The missile can engage targets both in direct hit mode as well as the top attack mode.
In the top attack mode, the missile is required to climb sharply after launch and travel at a certain altitude and then plunge on the top of the target. In the direct hit mode, the missile travels at a lower altitude, directly striking the target.
About NAG Missile
The Nag missile, also called “Prospina” for the land-attack version, is an Indian third-generation, all-weather, fire-and-forget, lock-on after launch, anti-tank guided missile with an operational range of 500 m to 20 km. It has a single-shot hit probability of 90% and a ten-year, maintenance-free shelf life.
The Nag has five variants under development:
1. A land version, for a mast-mounted system;
2. The helicopter-launched Nag (HELINA) also known as Dhruvastra;
3. A “man-portable” version (MPATGM);
4. An air-launched version which will replace the current imaging infra-red (IIR) to millimetric-wave (mmW) active radar homing seeker;
5. The Nag Missile Carrier (NAMICA) “tank buster”, which is a modified BMP-2Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) produced under license in India by Ordnance Factory Medak (OFMK)