India test-fires laser-guided anti-tank missile

In a major boost for Indian defence forces, Defence Research and Development Organisation successfully testfired its laser-guided anti-tank guided missile from MBT Arjun Tank at KK Ranges in Armoured Corps Centre and School (ACC&S) Ahmednagar. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO on successful test firing of the ATGM.

New Delhi: An indigenously developed laser-guided anti-tank guided missile has been successfully test-fired by the DRDO at a firing range in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar.

The weapon, having a range of up to four km, was test-fired from an MBT Arjun Tank at KK Ranges in Armoured Corps Centre and School (ACC&S) in Ahmednagar on Tuesday, officials said on Wednesday.

The laser-guided anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) is likely to significantly enhance the firepower capability of the Indian Army particularly along the frontiers with Pakistan and China, they said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on successful test firing of the ATGM.

"Congratulations to @DRDO_India for successfully conducting a test firing of Laser-Guided Anti Tank Guided Missile from MBT Arjun at KK Ranges (ACC&S) in Ahmednagar. India is proud of Team DRDO which is assiduously working towards reducing import dependency in the near future," he tweeted.

The officials said that the ATGM hit the targets with total accuracy and precision.

"The missile employs a tandem heat warhead to defeat explosive reactive armour protected armoured vehicles. It has been developed with multiple-platform launch capability and is currently undergoing technical evaluation trials from the gun of MBT Arjun," said an official.

The Arjun is a third-generation main battle tank developed by the DRDO.

Pune-based Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) developed the ATGM in association with the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory and Instruments Research and Development Establishment (IRDE).

(PTI Report)