Jaisalmer: The upgraded air version of the Nag missile which is a third generation ‘fire-and-forget’ anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) has been successfully tested from indigenous Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) again on Wednesday in the Pokhran firing range. The weapon system has been tested for its full range and series of its trials was done on Sunday. Prior to this the test was to be done on July 1 which was dropped on last moment due to some technical issue in the user firing trial in missile.

On Wednesday ‘HELINA’ weapon system was released smoothly from the launch platform and had tracked the target all through its course and hit the target with high precision. All the parameters were monitored by the telemetry stations, tracking systems and the helicopters. Senior officers of DRDO, Indian Army and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) were present for trial. The HELINA Missile trials were done on Sunday and again on Wednesday.

The Missile is guided by an Infrared Imaging Seeker (IIR) operating in the Lock on Before Launch mode. It is one of the most advanced anti-tank weapons in the world.

Source said the missiles were tested for its IIR with far greater resolution than what has been tested earlier as per the demand of the users. A higher version seeker, with a much higher focal plane array as compared to the original plan has been tested.

Source said Seekers evaluation trials are carried out for the ATGM in hot desert conditions of Rajasthan against both moving and static targets for different ranges till seven kilometres to evaluate performance of an improved version of IIR for engaging and striking the target.

It is known that IIRs for ‘HELINA’ have been developed indigenously at Hyderabad based research centre Imarat of DRDO and the missile is handled by the missile handling unit of HAL.