Nag (missile)

Nag
Nag missile with the NAMICA in the background. Picture taken during DEFEXPO-2008.
Type	Anti-tank guided missile
Place of origin	India
Service history
In service	2015
Used by	See Operators
Production history
Manufacturer	Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL)
Specifications
Weight	42 kg (93 lb)
Length	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Diameter	190 mm (7.5 in)
Warhead	8 kg (18 lb) tandem warhead
Engine	Tandem solid Propulsion (Nitramine based smokeless extruded double base sustainer propellant)
Wingspan	400 mm
Operational range	Land version: 500m to 4km (Air-launched: 7-10km)
Speed	230 m/s
Guidance system	Active Imaging infra-red (IIR) seeker, millimetric wave (mmW active radar homing seeker (under development)
Launch platform	Nag Missile Carrier (NAMICA) HAL Rudra Helicopter (Testing) HAL Light Combat Helicopter(Planned)

Nag (IAST: Nāga; "Cobra") is a third generation "fire-and-forget" anti-tank missile developed in India. It is one of five missile systems developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP). Nag has been developed at a cost of ₹3 billion (US$46.7 million).

The NAMICA version of the missile is a 'lock-on before launch' system, where the target is identified and designated before the missile is launched. As the targeting system is based on visual identification, the range is limited. The HELINA version on the other hand will use a 'lock-on after launch' system extending its range to 7 km. In this scenario, the missile is launched in the general direction of the target. As it approaches the target, images of the area ahead are sent back to the operator who will be able to identify enemy tanks. The command to lock on to a tank is then passed onto the seeker through an uplink mid-flight. After that, the missile homes in onto the target and destroys it.

In addition to basic land and helicopter variants the DRDO is now developing number of advanced variants of the Nag missile:

HeliNa, (Helicopter-launched Nag) with a range of 7–8 km, launched from twin-tube stub wing-mounted launchers on board the armed HAL Dhruv and HAL Light Combat Helicopter produced by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). It will be structurally different from the Nag. The Helina will make use of an IIR seeker for target engagement like the Nag. Launchers have been cleared for captive carriage trials and handed over to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for carriage trials.

The Helina was expected to be tested by the end of 2010. The first ground launches of the missiles were conducted in 2011. During which the missile was launched onto a target and launched. While the missile was in flight, a second target was chosen for the missile to hit which got destroyed. This demonstrated the capability of the missile to lock onto and hit another target while in flight. A 2-way RF command-video data link has been released which is intended to be fired from HAL Rudra. HELINA was tested to its full 7 km range in 2014 after being fired from an ALH Dhruv helicopter.