India conducts ‘third-generation' MPATGM trials
DRDO conducted a flight test of its MPATGM against a moving target on 11 January. (PIB)
India's Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has conducted flight tests of its ‘third-generation fire-and-forget' manportable anti-tank guided missile (MPATGM) against a simulated mobile target.
The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the trial was conducted on 11 January by DRDO's Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) at KK Ranges in Ahilya Nagar, Maharashtra, in western India.
According to the MoD, the MPATGM was tested against a moving tank target simulated by a thermal target system. However, the MoD did not provide any additional details about the test.
The MoD said the MPATGM consists of an imaging infrared (IIR) homing seeker, an all-electric control actuation system, a tandem warhead, a propulsion system, and a sighting system developed by DRDO laboratories. The missile features top attack capability and can be launched from a tripod or a launcher vehicle, the MoD added.
State-owned companies Bharat Dynamics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited are the development and production partners in the programme, the MoD said.
Janes reported in 2023 that the DRDO is designing a lightweight MPATGM for the Indian Army, which would feature a 10–30% weight reduction from the baseline version that weighs 14.5 kg. However, it is unclear if the MPATGM tested in January 2026 is the baseline or the lightweight version.
The baseline MPATGM has a length of 1,300 mm and a diameter of 120 mm. The missile's command launch unit (CLU) consists of a target acquisition system and a command control unit. It is equipped with a midwave infrared direct drive seeker and fired in lock-on before launch mode and can engage a target in direct or top attack approaches.
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