Image Credits - Idrw.org
On February 14, 2024, the Indian Army successfully tested an upgraded NAG Anti-Tank-Guided Missile (ATGM) at Rajasthan’s Pokhran field firing range. This four-kilometre missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), could be launched from the shoulder with an infrared seeker for imaging.
The NAG missile has remarkable specifications with a minimum range of 500 metres and a maximum range of 4,000 metres. Its speed ranges from 220 to 230 metres per second. The NAG, which weighs 42 kg, is available in three different configurations: vehicle-mounted, heliborne, and man-portable.
The Helina version, a third-generation, all-weather guided missile intended for helicopter deployment, is one of the noteworthy variations. The strike range of the Helina version is around 8 kilometres, which is farther than the range of the Nag missile, which is only 4 km.
The NAG missile has a ten-year shelf life and an excellent single-shot hit probability of 90%. The NAG missile is a versatile weapon that comes in five different versions, including land, helicopter, and man-portable.
Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL) has started serial manufacturing of the NAMICA (NAG Missile Carrier) tank destroyer to supplement the improved capabilities of the NAG missile. Based on an elongated, license-built BMP-2 chassis, NAMICA’s first unit has been deployed. The electro-optical equipment of this tank destroyer includes a laser rangefinder (LRF) and a thermal imager (TI) for accurate target acquisition.
The NAMICA has a hunter-killer sight capability and can fire missiles against targets that are around 7.5 km away. With eight missiles in ready-to-fire mode and four missiles in storage, it can carry a maximum of 12 missiles. The car also has space for four military men.
The NAMICA project, which was created by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) and the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), has been given the go-ahead for manufacturing by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), highlighting its strategic importance. NAMICA’s entire project cost is projected to be ₹3,000 crore.
