HELINA Anti-Tank Missiles Ace Joint Trials By Indian Army, Air Force With 100 Per Cent Hit Rate; Ready For Induction

As part of joint user trials by Indian Army and Air Force, four HELINA anti-tank missiles were launched from ALH Dhruv helicopter in Rajasthan sector, ANI reports.

The report quoted DRDO officials as saying that the four missions were carried out for evaluating missile capabilities in minimum and maximum range of 7 km.

The final mission was carried out with warhead missile against a derelict tank, and all the mission objectives were met. Reportedly, the missile hit the target five out of five times.

HELINA is the the helicopter launched Nag anti-tank guided missile with solid propelled anti-tank weapon with a range of over seven kilometres.

It was the was tested for the past five days at test-firing trials at Pokhran ranges in Rajasthan. It hit the target five out of five times at the range and now is ready for induction on HAL Rudra and light combat helicopters, reports HT.

HELINA missile is a third-generation anti-tank weapon with infra-red seeker, fire-and-forget features. It has an all-weather day and night capability and can take out enemy tanks with conventional and explosive reactive armour. The missile can engage targets both in direct hit mode as well as the top attack mode.

The IAF version of the missile is called Dhruvastra.

Reportedly, the helicopter launched missile has assumed significance after the stand-off with the People's Liberation Army in east Ladakh with the China deploying a large number of armour and rocket regiments in the battle theatre.