India achieves self-reliance with Indigenous SAMHO Missile for decimating enemy armour

India has achieved a major milestone in its pursuit of self-reliance in the defence sector with the successful development and operational testing of the SAMHO, an indigenous anti-tank-guided missile. Created by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), SAMHO, part of the 120 mm Cannon Launched Missile Development Program (CLMDP), has completed all trials and is now set for production.

The SAMHO missile, designed for deployment on the Arjun Main Battle Tank (MBT), significantly enhances India’s anti-tank warfare capabilities. The first trial, conducted on September 22, 2020, from the Arjun tank, was followed by tests in October 2020 and June 2022, with the successful actual firing test taking place on August 4, 2022.

Equipped with a semi-active laser homing guidance system, SAMHO ensures precise targeting of enemy main battle tanks, including those protected by explosive reactive armour, as well as hardened point targets and low-flying helicopters. The weapon system utilizes a High Explosive Anti-Tank Warhead (HEAT) to effectively destroy heavily armoured modern vehicles and tanks.

SAMHO demonstrates remarkable versatility through two firing modes. The Top Attack Lifted Trajectory is suitable for engaging heavily armoured targets from above, offering enhanced protection against countermeasures, with a range of 2-5 km. The Direct (Flat) Trajectory, ideal for rapid engagements or targeting at closer distances, provides a range of 1.5 to 2 km.

Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs), like SAMHO, are designed primarily to hit and destroy heavily armoured military vehicles. These missiles, often referred to as fire-and-forget missiles rely on an electro-optical image seeker. SAMHO’s guidance system can receive laser targeting information from either the co-mounted laser designator on the Arjun tank or a separate third-party designator, expanding operational possibilities.