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DRDO’s Nag ATGM Disappoints Army, Fails To Meet Mission Objectives During Trials
The state-run DRDO as well as the Indian Army have received a major setback as the user trials of the third-generation Nag anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) failed to achieve the desired results. DRDO officials have admitted that the Nag anti-tank missile with its carrier NAMICA have given an underwhelming performance in the Mahajan Firing Range in Rajasthan yesterday. The user trials were witnessed by senior Army officers who have asked DRDO to be better prepared for the next trial.
During the trials, four Nag missiles were fired of which only one could hit the target. The remaining failed to deliver accurate results since the equipment on-board the weapon failed to function properly. Besides the Nag missile, the Indian Army officials did not find the performance of the NAMICA carrier impressive as well since it could not display its capabilities in water during the trials.
According to DRDO spokesperson Ravi Gupta, the user trials of the Nag anti-tank missile with the NAMICA were only a partial success. He added that the Advanced Target Acquisition systems with both the Gunner and Commander have performed well during the user trial of the Nag missile.
He added that while the NAMICA carrier failed to display its capabilities in water, it met the requirements of the user in terms of its cross-country capabilities. DRDO is currently looking into the deviations in the engine performance of the NAMICA carrier. NAMICA is a modified Russian-origin BMP-II personnel carrier for the Nag missile.
The Nag anti-tank missile is part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) and has been under development since a lot of time now. NAG ATGM is based on imaging infra-red (IIR) passive seeker technology for ensuring high accuracy. According to DRDO, it may take few more years of research before it is finally inducted. Indian government has already spent about Rs 1,700 crore on developing the Nag ATGM project with no positive signs.
As for the DRDO, it is also working on developing the helicopter-launched Nag missile called the HELINA and its trials are also expected to be held soon. Unlike the NAMICA, which works on a ‘lock-on before launch’ system, HELINA uses a technology called ‘lock-on after launch’.
The Indian Army has been eagerly awaiting the induction of the indigenous Nag missile and it is awaiting its order of 400 Nag missiles and about 13 NAMICAs. At this juncture, the Army may go for more second generation Russian Konkurs-M missiles which is already a part of its inventory. The Army also uses the French-origin Milan anti-tank missiles and is also in negotiations with the US for procuring the over-priced Javelin anti-tank guided missiles.
DRDO’s Nag ATGM Disappoints Army, Fails To Meet Mission Objectives During Trials
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Nag Fails in User Trials
DRDO's long-delayed Nag anti-tank missile project has suffered yet another setback as its user trials held recently in the Mahajan firing range failed.
In the trials held in Rajasthan in presence of senior Lt Gen-rank officers from the Army and top DRDO officials, the modified carrier of the missile called NAMICA also under-performed, sources said.
In the trials held at the Mahajan firing range, four Nag missiles were fired of which only one could hit the target whereas the remaining failed to do so due to glitches in the equipment on-board the weapon, they said.
Army officials present at the test-firings were not happy with the performance of the missile and have asked the Defence research agency to come better prepared for the trials to be held in the future, they said.
The missile has been under development as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) initiated in early 1980s and is now expected to take few more years to reach the induction stage.
Sources said the carrier of the Nag missile called NAMICA -- a modified Russian-origin BMP-II personnel carrier, also failed to satisfy the users in displaying its capabilities in water during the trials.
However, the NAMICA met the requirements of the user in terms of its cross-country capabilities, they said.
When contacted for his reaction, DRDO spokesperson Ravi Gupta said the trials were a "partial success".
"The Advanced Target Acquisition systems with both the Gunner and Commander have performed well," he claimed.
Nag Fails in User Trials