Helina Anti-Tank Guided Missile: Officials from India’s apex defence research organization DRDO, Indian Army and Indian Air Force Monday testfired indigenously designed and developed helicopter launched Anti-Tank Guided Missile Helina at high-altitude ranges, said the defence ministry.
The test, which was part of user validation trials, was jointly conducted by the teams of scientists from Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Indian Army and Indian Air Force (IAF).
The flight trials were conducted from India’s indigenously designed and developed Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and the missile was fired successfully engaging simulated tank target.
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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,” said the ministry of defence.
Officials said, this trial, which is in continuation to validation trials conducted at Pokhran in Rajasthan, is a proof of efficacy of the Helina missile system at high altitudes and paves the way for its integration on the ALH built by state owned aircraft manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
The trials were witnessed by senior Army commanders and senior scientists of the DRDO.
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Heliborne Anti Tank Missile – Helina (File Photo)
Heliborne anti-tank guided missile Helina
HELINA (Helicopter based NAG) is a third generation fire and forget class anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system mounted on the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH).
The system has all weather day and night capability and can defeat battle tanks with conventional armour as well as explosive reactive armour. The Helina missile can engage targets both in direct hit mode as well as top attack mode.
Helina Weapon Systems is being inducted into the Indian Army (IA). A variant of Helina Weapon System called Dhruvastra is being inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF).
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