India successfully tests one of the most advanced anti-tank weapons in the world - HELINA

Pokhran, April 11: India has successfully tested one of the most advanced anti-tank weapons in the world -- the Helina guided-missile system at Pokhran range in Rajasthan.

 

Launched from a homemade Advanced Light Helicopter, the flight test was jointly conducted by the teams of scientists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Indian Army and Indian Air Force, as part of the user validation trials.

  

 

"The flight trials were conducted from an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and the missile was fired successfully engaging simulated tank target. The missile is guided by an Imaging Infra-Red (IIR) Seeker operating in the Lock on Before Launch mode. It is one of the most advanced anti-tank weapons in the world," the Defence Ministry said in a statement.

 

In continuation to validation trials conducted at Pokhran in Rajasthan, proof of efficacy at high altitudes paves the way for its integration on the ALH. The trials were witnessed by senior Army commanders and senior scientists of the DRDO.

 

 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO and the Indian Army for the maiden achievement through joint work. Secretary Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr G Satheesh Reddy congratulated the teams for the commendable job performed in difficult conditions.

 

 

Helina is a third-generation fire and forget class anti-tank guided missile system mounted on the Advanced Light Helicopter. It has all-weather day and night capability and can defeat battle tanks with conventional armour as well as explosive reactive armour. The targets can be engaged in direct hit mode and top attack mode as well.

 

The Indian Army version is known as Helina while the Indian Air Force edition is called Dhruvastra. A day ago, the DRDO successfully tested an upgraded version of the Pinaka Mk-1 rocket system from the Pokhran deserts. In the last two weeks, 24 rocket systems were fired for different ranges.