 "India successfully tests anti-tank missile Nag Mk-2: Why Pakistan and China should worry")
India’s weapons arsenal got a major boost on Monday (January 13) when India successfully carried out field evaluation trials of its homemade third-generation anti-tank guided missile Nag Mk-2.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), who is the brains behind the weapon, carried out the trials of the Nag Mk-2 at the Pokhran field range in Rajasthan. The DRDO also announced that the Nag Missile Carrier version-2 was also evaluated and now, “the entire weapon system is ready for induction into the Indian Army.”
What exactly are the capabilities of the Nag Mk-2? Why the development of this weapon is a big boost to the Indian Army?
Successful trial of Nag Mk-2
On Monday, the DRDO carried out the field trial of the Nag Mk-2 in the presence of senior Indian Army officers.
#WATCH | Field evaluation trials of the DRDO developed Nag Mark 2 anti-tank guided missiles were successfully carried out in the Pokharan firing ranges: DRDO officials pic.twitter.com/0h6G5NyZai
— ANI (@ANI) January 13, 2025
“Field evaluation trials of indigenously-developed Nag Mk 2, the third-generation anti-tank fire-and-forget guided missile, were successfully conducted recently at Pokhran field range in the presence of senior officers of the Indian Army,” said the DRDO in a statement.
“During the three field trials, the missile systems destroyed precisely all the targets — maximum and minimum range, thus validating its firing range,” it added.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO, the Indian Army and industry for the successful field evaluation trials of the entire weapon system of Nag Mk 2.
Specifications and capabilities of Nag Mk-2
The Nag Mk-2 is an indigenously made all-weather, fire-and-forget, lock-on after launch, anti-tank guided missile (ATGM). What this means is that it requires minimal operator intervention post launch.
According to defence experts, the Nag Mk-2 is effective against modern armoured vehicles, including those equipped with Explosive Reactor Armour.
While the exact range remains classified, the Nag Mk-2 is estimated to have a range of seven to 10 kilometres, a significant improvement over its predecessor the Nag Mark 1, which had a 4-kilometre range.
The missile also boasts a tandem high-explosive anti tank (HEAT) warhead for increased destructive power and a top-attack capability to strike the most vulnerable part of armoured targets.
The Nag Mk-2 missile is launched from the NAMICA, an armoured vehicle based on the Indian-made BMP-2 Sarath. For those who don’t know, the Sarath is based off a Russian-origin BMP-II based system with amphibious capability.
The NAMICA provides a robust and mobile platform for the Nag missile system, allowing it to be deployed quickly and effectively across various terrains.
Significance of Nag Mk-2
With the successful trials of the Nag Mk-2, it is ready to be deployed in the Indian Army, pushing it one step further towards atma-nirbhar (self-dependence). Until now, the Indian Army was buying anti-tank missiles from other countries. For instance, India had to buy around 200 pieces of Spike anti-tank missiles from Israel as emergency purchases after the aggression by China’s People’s Liberation Army in Ladakh in 2020.
The need for anti-tank missiles was sorely felt after PLA amassed artillery, rockets and tanks in occupied Aksai Chin to deter India.
The induction of the Nag Mk-2 will also serve as a deterrent against old rival Pakistan and its anti-India activities at the border. It also gives an edge to India over Pakistan when it comes to this technology. As of now, Islamabad has the Barq laser-guided missile. However, it’s reliant on Turkish technology and lacks the fire-and-forget capability of the Nag.
When it comes to China, it boasts of the HJ-10 with a comparable range to the Nag. But, it is heavily reliant on wire guidance making it more vulnerable to countermeasures. Moreover, the Nag’s advanced IIR seeker and top-attack mode further enhances its lethality against modern armour.
With inputs from agencies
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