India marked a significant milestone in indigenous defence capability as the Defence Research and Development Organisation successfully flight tested the third generation Man Portable Anti Tank Guided Missile with top attack capability against a moving target. The test was conducted on 11 January 2026 at the KK Ranges in Ahilya Nagar district of Maharashtra, validating the missile’s operational performance under realistic combat conditions.
The Man Portable Anti Tank Guided Missile is a fire and forget weapon system designed to neutralise modern armoured threats with high precision. The successful trial demonstrated the missile’s top attack mode, a critical capability that enables it to strike armoured vehicles at their most vulnerable point. The weapon system is capable of engaging moving targets and is suitable for deployment in diverse battlefield scenarios.
Developed indigenously by Defence Research and Development Organisation through its Defence Research and Development Laboratory in Hyderabad, the missile integrates a suite of advanced technologies developed by multiple DRDO laboratories. These include an Imaging Infrared homing seeker that enables accurate day and night operations, an all electric control actuation system, a modern fire control system, a high performance propulsion system and a tandem warhead capable of defeating contemporary main battle tanks.
The Imaging Infrared seeker provides the missile with autonomous target acquisition and tracking, eliminating the need for operator guidance after launch. The tandem warhead has been designed to penetrate explosive reactive armour and heavy composite protection commonly used on modern armoured platforms. A high performance sighting system enhances target engagement accuracy in varied terrain and weather conditions.
To simulate a realistic battlefield scenario, a Thermal Target System developed by the Defence Laboratory in Jodhpur was used during the trial to replicate the thermal signature of an enemy tank. The missile can be launched from a tripod-based ground launcher as well as from a military vehicle-mounted launcher, offering operational flexibility to infantry and mechanised units.
The development and production programme is being supported by industry partners Bharat Dynamics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited as development cum production partners, reflecting strong public sector and industry collaboration in indigenous defence manufacturing.
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, its industry partners and the development teams for the successful test, describing it as an important step towards strengthening Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence production.
Secretary Department of Defence Research and Development and Chairman DRDO Samir V Kamat said the missile successfully met all trial objectives and that the system is now ready to progress towards induction into the Indian Army. The successful test reinforces India’s growing capability to design and produce advanced third generation missile systems domestically, enhancing operational preparedness and reducing dependence on imports.
