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Anti-tank Nag missile 'Helina's' trial conducted successfully

WHITESMOKE

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JAISALMER: The second land-to-land preliminarily trial of 'fire and forget' third generation anti-tank Nag missile's upgraded land version — 'Helina' — was carried out on Sunday at the Pokhran field firing range. The target was fired in the presence of Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and army officials. The missile hit the target successfully.

Defence sources said, "For hitting the target, a launching pad was made in Pokhran field firing range. Helina's target was set 7km from the launching pad. The target was fired from launching pad and was hit successfully."

Before this, air-to-ground preliminarily trials of anti-tank Nag missile's air version of 'Helina' were conducted on October 21, 2011, which were unsuccessful.

"The range of the land version will be extended by development of a mast-mounted missile launcher that is hydraulically raised to a height of 5 metres to enable the missile to acquire its targets up to a distance of 7-8km. An air-launched, 10-km range variant will be launched from tactical interdiction aircraft like the upgraded Jaguar IS. It has a nose-mounted mill metric-wave active radar seeker," sources said.

Defence sources said, "The Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) will also start working on the 'man portable' Nag soon. It would weigh less than 14kg. It is being developed as per user requirements and will see upgraded propulsion to enable 'Helina' to strike enemy armour at a distance of 7-8km."

Nag is a third generation 'fire-and-forget' anti-tank missile developed in India. It is one of the five missile systems developed by DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). Nag has been developed at a cost of Rs 300 crore. Its land version is presently undergoing trials in Chandan field firing range in Pokhran.

Nag is also configured to be used on the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and the HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LCH). This version is known as Helina (HELIcopter launched NAg). Eight missiles are carried in two quadruple launchers. Launchers mounted on either side are linked to a nose-mounted stabilized thermal sight and a laser range-finder package.

'Helina' with a range of 7-8km, will be launched from twin-tube stub wing-mounted launchers on board the armed HAL Dhruv and HAL Light Combat Helicopter produced by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). The first ground launches of the missiles were conducted in October 2011 during which the missile was launched onto the target. While the missile was in flight, a second target was chosen for the missile to hit, which was successfully destroyed. This demonstrated the capability of the missile to lock onto and hit another target while in flight. A two-way RF command-video data link has been released which is intended to be fired from HAL ALH.

"Nag missile has a top attack capability. The 'Helina' version will use a 'lock-on after launch' system extending its range to 7km. In this scenario, the missile is launched in the general direction of the target. As it approaches the target, images of the area ahead are sent back to the operator who will be able to identify enemy tanks. The command to lock onto a tank is then passed onto the seeker through an uplink mid-flight. After that, the missile homes in onto the target and destroys it," sources said.
 
JAISALMER: The second land-to-land preliminarily trial of 'fire and forget' third generation anti-tank Nag missile's upgraded land version — 'Helina' — was carried out on Sunday at the Pokhran field firing range. The target was fired in the presence of Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and army officials. The missile hit the target successfully.

Defence sources said, "For hitting the target, a launching pad was made in Pokhran field firing range. Helina's target was set 7km from the launching pad. The target was fired from launching pad and was hit successfully."

Before this, air-to-ground preliminarily trials of anti-tank Nag missile's air version of 'Helina' were conducted on October 21, 2011, which were unsuccessful.

"The range of the land version will be extended by development of a mast-mounted missile launcher that is hydraulically raised to a height of 5 metres to enable the missile to acquire its targets up to a distance of 7-8km. An air-launched, 10-km range variant will be launched from tactical interdiction aircraft like the upgraded Jaguar IS. It has a nose-mounted mill metric-wave active radar seeker," sources said.

Defence sources said, "The Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) will also start working on the 'man portable' Nag soon. It would weigh less than 14kg. It is being developed as per user requirements and will see upgraded propulsion to enable 'Helina' to strike enemy armour at a distance of 7-8km."

Nag is a third generation 'fire-and-forget' anti-tank missile developed in India. It is one of the five missile systems developed by DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). Nag has been developed at a cost of Rs 300 crore. Its land version is presently undergoing trials in Chandan field firing range in Pokhran.

Nag is also configured to be used on the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and the HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LCH). This version is known as Helina (HELIcopter launched NAg). Eight missiles are carried in two quadruple launchers. Launchers mounted on either side are linked to a nose-mounted stabilized thermal sight and a laser range-finder package.

'Helina' with a range of 7-8km, will be launched from twin-tube stub wing-mounted launchers on board the armed HAL Dhruv and HAL Light Combat Helicopter produced by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). The first ground launches of the missiles were conducted in October 2011 during which the missile was launched onto the target. While the missile was in flight, a second target was chosen for the missile to hit, which was successfully destroyed. This demonstrated the capability of the missile to lock onto and hit another target while in flight. A two-way RF command-video data link has been released which is intended to be fired from HAL ALH.

"Nag missile has a top attack capability. The 'Helina' version will use a 'lock-on after launch' system extending its range to 7km. In this scenario, the missile is launched in the general direction of the target. As it approaches the target, images of the area ahead are sent back to the operator who will be able to identify enemy tanks. The command to lock onto a tank is then passed onto the seeker through an uplink mid-flight. After that, the missile homes in onto the target and destroys it," sources said.

Earlier the LWIR seekers had shown great accuracy BUT were prone to degraded performance in certain temperature conditions where the ambient temperature in Thar would render the seeker incapable of discriminating between the target and the surrounding. DRDO had to take 2 years off from the testings- develop a miniaturized cryogenic cooling system and integrate it with the LWIR seeker. Two months back when the seeker was dry tested it engaged eight out of eight designated targets both static and moving.

But then we have already moved ahead with the SAMHO in terms of fully actuated controls and MEMS components.

The man portable version isn't going to find any takers in the IA though.

The MWR is well within reach for the Helina.

A job well done all in all. Specially the cooled LWIR.
 
Earlier the LWIR seekers had shown great accuracy BUT were prone to degraded performance in certain temperature conditions where the ambient temperature in Thar would render the seeker incapable of discriminating between the target and the surrounding. DRDO had to take 2 years off from the testings- develop a miniaturized cryogenic cooling system and integrate it with the LWIR seeker. Two months back when the seeker was dry tested it engaged eight out of eight designated targets both static and moving.

But then we have already moved ahead with the SAMHO in terms of fully actuated controls and MEMS components.

The man portable version isn't going to find any takers in the IA though.

The MWR is well within reach for the Helina.

A job well done all in all. Specially the cooled LWIR.



I agree man portable wont come easily in IA, but I am glad at least Nag and Helina are making their way. Even then, I think it will take long time for DRDO if they try to make man portable version as its another new product in itself, so may be IA wont like to wait that long. Lets see what will happen with US proposed JV, which is still a news.

What you think, how long it may take for the induction of Nag and Helina? More trials yet?
 
Earlier the LWIR seekers had shown great accuracy BUT were prone to degraded performance in certain temperature conditions where the ambient temperature in Thar would render the seeker incapable of discriminating between the target and the surrounding. DRDO had to take 2 years off from the testings- develop a miniaturized cryogenic cooling system and integrate it with the LWIR seeker. Two months back when the seeker was dry tested it engaged eight out of eight designated targets both static and moving.

But then we have already moved ahead with the SAMHO in terms of fully actuated controls and MEMS components.

The man portable version isn't going to find any takers in the IA though.

The MWR is well within reach for the Helina.

A job well done all in all. Specially the cooled LWIR.
At least they're still pursuing the man-portable NAG's R&D cycle, the last I heard work on this derivative had been all but abandoned. If they at least finish all the work on this project they can move on to bigger and better things using this work as a base.


Wrt getting IA placing orders I don't know at all, it all depends on timelines, to be honest I am expecting a pretty large FGM-148 Javelin oder for the IA within the next 2-3 years. However if the NAG man-portable version can come online within the next 3-4 years who knows if a few corps couldn't be equipped with the NAG?
 
This is a very good development. HELINA getting inducted will provide a big push to the LAH and LCH helicopters. DRDL should now make something ala Brimstone..

We should also get involved in the JV for next gen. Javelin. Since we will be producing it at home, we certainly will gain a lot from it.
 
Is it comparable to hellfire? most of the specifications are same!
 
Good. Now keep on developing it. we want it to be success like Akash. The most important thing is that now we have a well developed platform in hand to further develop next generation missile. We should make sure that we exploit the full capability of the platform.
 
Why isn't the IA interested in man-portable Nag? Too heavy?

SAMHO and Javelin. The DRDO's main thrust area now is the MWR seeker. They need to maintain the momentum, they are almost over the hill now. Once the cycle for the Helina is complete then IF mandated the DRDO can transition to a heavier aircraft launched- longer range anti-armor munition, similarly a dual mode seeker variant (LWIR and MWR) with the refinements from the SAMHO system can be introduced. The point is to get past the threshold. The same way its been done for PGMs, where the first rudimentary LGB took time and now the PG kit has reached similar performance and technical parameters as its western counterparts.
 
it's time that Nag gets inducted into IA or it will be a generation behind....developmenbt is one part ..induction is another..
As a suggestion DRDO should off load the marketing of the missiles to Reliance....:smart:
They can sell sell dry wells to GOI as full of GAS...:azn:
 
helina.jpg
 

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