Big boost to Make in India in defence sector as DRDO succesfully tests indigenous anti-tank missile for Indian Army

Defense research and development organization had achieved a
huge feat in the indigenous missile development programme as India’s DRDO had
successfully tested the Man Portable (MP-ATGM) from a firing range in Kurnool,
Andhra Pradesh. This is a big boost to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Make
in India scheme.

This was the third successful test-firing of the 100 per cent made
in India indigenous Anti Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) which is being developed
for the usage of infantry battalions in the Indian Army. This could be used by
the infantry battalions for taking down the enemy tank and other armored
vehicles during war times.

DRDO chairman G Satheesh Reddy told the news agency ANI that it
was a major success for the indigenous missile project and thus India got
transformed into self-reliant country in the field of anti-tank guided
missiles.

"Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) today successfully flight tested indigenously developed low
weight, fire and forget MPATGM. The missile was launched from a man-portable
tripod launcher and the target was mimicking a functional tank," said Defence Ministry spokesperson
Bharat Bhushan Babu.

Currently, the Indian Army uses the imported Milan 2T and
Konkurs Russian anti-tank missile in the infantry but they are vintage missiles
and the force is looking for a third-generation ATGM.

The Indian Army also made a recent proposal to buy 3000 Milan 2T
ATGMs as a stopgap arrangement. The requirement of ATGMs for Indian Army
requires is around 70,000 ATGMs of various varieties and also around 850
launchers of different types. There are also plans to obtain third-generation
ATGMs with a much longer range than the range of existing Milan-2T and Konkurs
ATGMs.

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat also supported DRDO with complete
backing for its indigenization efforts. Defense related and development
organization was also congratulated by the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for
this achievement.