India fires ‘Helina’ missile from a helicopter in Ladakh for the second consecutive day

New Delhi, April 12 (H.S.)| India successfully test-fired anti-tank guided missile ‘Helina’ from an indigenously Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) in the high altitude areas of Ladakh, destroying a tank target.

Development trials of helicopter-launched Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) ‘Helina’ were completed last year. However, rapid user trials are now being conducted by the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force. After this, it will be on its way to production and will soon be handed over to the armed forces for use with Tank Guided Missiles.

DRDO on Monday test-fired the missile from the Pokhran firing range and for the second consecutive day, in the high altitude areas of Ladakh by launching it from indigenous ALH under surveillance of both the forces.

‘Helina’ missile is the third generation fire-and-forget class ATGM to be mounted on indigenously developed ALH. It has a minimum strike range of 500 meters and a maximum range of 7 kilometres.

During the test conducted under the supervision of senior army commanders and senior scientists of DRDO, the missile was guided by an infrared imaging seeker which works in lock-on mode before launch. It is one of the most advanced anti-tank weapons in the world.

The helicopter-launched Nag missile has increased its range and has been named Helina, its structure is different from the Nag missile.

To check the lock-on of the missile, the test of locking-on a target and firing was done for the first time in 2011. A second target was given to hit during the flight which was destroyed by the missile. Thus, the missile demonstrated its ability to hit a suddenly changed target while in flight. On 13 July 2015, HAL conducted three tests from a Rudra helicopter at the Chandhan firing range in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The missiles managed to hit two targets at a distance of 7 km, while one was missed.

After completion of development trials, the missile is now in straight and on top attack mode, which is upgraded with new features.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh jointly congratulated DRDO, Indian Army and Air Force for this achievement. Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy, Secretary of Department of Defence Research and Development and Chairperson of DRDO, has also appreciated the teams engaged in this work for the commendable work done in difficult circumstances.