Milan-2T anti-tank missile Indian Army

The request to procure Milan-2T anti-tank missiles will be looked at by the Defence Acquisition Council, headed by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and including the three service chiefs on January 31

New Delhi: Short of anti-tank missiles -- the Spike was a hit and miss -- and the Javelin, despite considerable pushing and pulling, not taking off, the Army is settling for older, second-generation missiles as the larder is relatively empty. And let's not forget that the Defence Research and Development Organisation's Nag is still in the development stage. Which is why the Army has requested for the Milan-2T anti-tank missile for its current needs.

While the Milan was first produced in the '70s, the Milan-2T is of more recent vintage-- it was developed as a counter to 'reactive armour' in the '90s. The Milan request will be looked at by the Defence Acquisition Council, headed by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and including the three service chiefs on January 31.

The request, to equip the infantry battalions, is for about 5,000 Milan-2T missiles. Trials would also not be necessary as it is a repeat order.
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The Milan was used in the Kargil War of 1999 in bunker-busting, of all things. The Pakistani soldiers had built "Sangars" fortified bunkers in the mountains and the Milan, which is a wire-guided missile, was used quite effectively against them.

Though they are second-generation missiles, they are expected to serve for another decade, by which time more state-of-the-art anti-tank weapons will be available.