India Test-fires Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM)

India test-fired its home-made Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) in the Pokhran region of Rajasthan, on Thursday.

“In both the missions, the missiles hit the designated targets precisely at different ranges. All the mission objectives have been met,” a statement issued by the Indian Defence Ministry read.

This was a twin test; the first test was conducted on Wednesday. The mass production of the missile is expected to begin in 2021.

Earlier this week, India also test-fired a guided Pinaka rocket, meant to do precision strikes at ranges of up to 90 kilometres.

Fitted with a high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead, the MPATGM can precisely hit targets within a 2.5-kilometre radius. The missile was developed by state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

MPATGM is equipped with advanced features like Imaging Infrared Radar (IIR) Seeker with integrated avionics. The missiles are usually shoulder-launched anti-tank rockets. They are typically unguided weapons and are a threat to armoured vehicles, low-flying aircraft (especially helicopters), and field fortifications.