MPATGM


The MPATGM, or Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile, is an Indian third-generation fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile derived from Nag ATGM. It is currently under development by the Defence Research and Development Organisation in partnership with Indian defence contractor VEM Technologies Private Limited.

Design

The MPATGM is a low weight, long cylindrical missile with a group of four fins around its mid-section. It is fitted with high-explosive anti-tank warhead. The missile has a length of about 1,300 mm and a diameter of about 120 mm with aluminum and carbon fiber launch tube and collapsible tripod to save on weight. It has a weight of 14.5 kg, with its command launch unit weighing 14.25 kg which combines a laser designator with digital all-weather sight. It has a range of about 2.5 km.
The MPATGM is equipped with an advanced imaging infrared sensor and integrated avionics. The missile has top attack capability. It reportedly share many similarities with systems such as FGM-148 Javelin, and Spike.

Development

started work on a man-portable version of the Nag missile in 2005. On 20 December 2017, India cancelled a major deal for acquiring the Israeli Spike in favour of the DRDO MPATGM, after deciding that no transfer of technology was needed for the development of MPATGM. However, India reauthorized the deal in January 2018 during a visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to India. This deal was cancelled again in June 2019 after DRDO promised to deliver the MPATGM by 2021. However, the Indian Army bought a limited number of Spike to cater for their immediate requirement until the MPATGM is ready for induction. MPATGM user trials will be completed by 2020.

Production facility

The MPATGM will be manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited at a facility located in Bhanoor, Telangana. This facility was inaugurated on September 29, 2018.

Testing

On September 15, 2018, DRDO carried out the first trial of the MPATGM successfully. This trial was followed by another successful trial of the MPATGM on September 16, 2018.
On March 13, 2019 DRDO successfully tested the MPATGM in the Rajasthan desert. This was followed by another successful test next day on March 14, 2019.
The missile was tested again on 11 September 2019. A man portable tripod launcher was used in the test. The target of the test was a dummy tank, which was hit in top attack mode.