The Indian armed forces successfully test fired the helicopter-launched Nag Missile (Helina), now named Dhruvastra anti-tank guided missile in direct and top attack mode. The flight trials were conducted on 15th and 16th July at ITR Balasore (Odisha). This is done without a helicopter.
HELINA is a third-generation fire and forget class anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system mounted on the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH). The system has all-weather day and night capability and can defeat battle tanks with conventional armour as well as explosive reactive armour. The HELINA missile can engage targets both in direct hit mode as well as top attack mode. HELINA Weapon Systems is being inducted into the Indian Army. A variant of HELINA Weapon System called DHRUVASTRA is being inducted into the Indian Air Force.
The missile has a maximum range capability of 7.0 km in Lock On Before Launch (LOBL) mode. Eight missiles can be attached to the Helicopter with the help of 4 twin launchers.
HELINA can be fired in two modes i.e. Direct and Top attack. With a warhead penetration capability of 800 mm, the missile can defeat futuristic armour as well, thereby inflicting maximum damage to the tank and crippling its crew. The fire and forget capability has been imparted by an indigenously developed Imaging Infra Red seeker.
The project is currently in advanced development stage. Safe separation, full range controllability & LOBL guidance performance have been successfully proven from ALH platform in standalone mode configuration.
- Missile Specifications
- Length : 1.9 m
- Weight : 45 kg
- Diameter : 0.16 m
- Missile Speed : 240 m/s
- Range : 500 m to 7 km
- SSKP : >80%
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