Date:26/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/26/stories/2008122660311400.htm

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Anti-tank Nag missile test-fired successfully

Y.Mallikarjun

Expected to be inducted into the Army shortly

The Nag missile being tested at Pokhran.

HYDERABAD: Third generation hit-to-kill anti-tank missile Nag was successfully test-fired in its full configuration at the Air Force ranges near Pokhran, Rajasthan, on Thursday. This marks the first in a series of winter trials to be conducted by the Army till this month-end.

Describing the trial as “100 per cent success,” Nag’s Programme Director and DRDL director P. Venugopalan told The Hindu that the missile carried a live warhead and caused extensive destruction to the stationary target, a derelict tank, covering a range of 3.3. km.

He said the missile, launched from its dedicated carrier, Namica, zeroed in precisely where the Army wanted, which was one of the main objectives of the trial. It was bang on target. It pierced through the tank’s armour at the point specified by the user. The exercise was conducted as part of the final user trials, which would be carried out by the Army in different conditions.

The winter trials would be followed by summer trials and the missile was expected to be inducted into the Army shortly.

Mr. Venugopalan said that as part of the final user trials, a batch of missiles was being checked to ensure that whole system worked satisfactorily.

Nag’s project director S.S. Mishra said the Army was extremely satisfied with the performance of the missile, including the lethality of the warhead.

The missile, which could be fired during night and day, is equipped with “top attack” capability to nullify the explosive reactive armour (ERA) of a battle tank.

It would be fired against two moving and three fixed targets during December 28, 29 and 30 in Rajasthan.