Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM)

• India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) conducted the first successful test firing of a new indigenously designed and developed man portable anti-tank guided missile (MPATGM) at the Ahmednagar test range in the western Indian state of Maharashtra.

About MPATGM:

• The MPATGM is a third-generation anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), which has been under development by DRDO in partnership with Indian defense contractor VEM Technologies Ltd. since 2015.
• Fitted with a high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead, the MPATGM reportedly boasts a top attack capability and has a maximum engagement range of about 2.5 kilometers.
• DRDO has promised the Indian Army to hand over the first MPATGM prototype by the end of 2018 for user trials. Mass production of the missile is expected to begin in 2021.
• The Indian government scrapped a $500 million deal with Rafael for 321 Spike ATGM systems and 8,356 missiles in favor of the MPATGM system in December 2017.
• The service is also concerned about delays in the induction of the new weapon system. Consequently, the Indian Army has been pushing for the acquisition of man portable ATGMs from abroad, despite heavy opposition from the DRDO. As I explained earlier this year:
• The Indian Army claims that it lacks 68,000 ATGMs of various types and around 850 launchers and is 60 percent short of its authorized holdings. Furthermore, its existing stockpile largely consists of obsolete second-generation Milan-2T and Konkurs anti-tank missiles.

By: Vishal