Nag (missile)

See also: Integrated Guided Missile Development Program#Nag missile system

Nag
Nag missile with the NAMICA in the background. Picture taken during DEFEXPO-2008.
Type	Anti-tank guided missile
Place of origin	India
Service history
In service	2009-present
Used by	See Operators
Production history
Manufacturer	Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL)
Specifications
Weight	42 kg (93 lb)
Length	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Diameter	190 mm (7.5 in)
Warhead	8 kg (18 lb) tandem warhead
Engine	Tandem solid Propulsion (Nitramine based smokeless extruded double base sustainer propellant)
Wingspan	400 mm
Operational range	Land version: 500m to 4km (Air launched: 7-10km)[1]
Speed	230 m/s
Guidance system	Active Imaging infra-red (IIR) seeker, millimetric wave (mmW) seeker (under development)
Launch platform	Nag Missile Carrier (NAMICA) HAL Dhruv Helicopter HAL Light Combat Helicopter

Nag (Sanskrit: नाग, Nāg "Cobra") is a Fourth generation "Fire-and-forget" anti-tank missile developed in India. It is one of five missile systems developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP). Nag has been developed at a cost of 300 crore (US$60.8 million).^[2]

Technical Characteristics

As originally conceived, the Nag would have been available with three different types of guidance, These included a wire guided version, an infra-red version and a millimetric wave (mmW) version. DRDO failed to develop a wire guidance system had this led to plans for this being dropped. Currently, guidance is based on an imaging infra-red (IIR) passive seeker that ensures a high-hit accuracy in both top- and front-attack modes.

The mmW seeker, on the other hand, is intended to operate as an optional system that can replace the IIR passive seeker as a module. Also incorporated into the guidance system, is a CCD camera. The advantage of this optical seeker is that it is less prone to jamming. The missile has a weight of 42 kg and can engage targets at ranges 4–5 km. The Nag is claimed to be first anti-tank missile which has a complete fiberglass structure.

Another advantage of the missile is property of the propellant. Most missiles leave a plume as the missile heads toward the target. This makes it harder for the firer to remain hidden. In the Nag, however, the plume is visible only during the first one second of flight, as the missile's booster imparts 90% of the velocity, following which, a sustainer maintains the missile's speed, burning a smokeless propellant that is almost invisible.

The Nag has a flight speed of 230 metres per second, is armed with a 8 kg tandem shaped-charge warhead, has a rocket motor using nitramine-based smokeless extruded double base sustainer propellant, has a single-shot hit probability of 0.77 and a CEP of 0.9 metres, and has a 10-year maintenance-free shelf-life.Recently,it was tested from Shamirpet in hyderabad on June 13, 2010.

The Nag will be produced in two main basic variants. The land version has been tested from a tracked vehicle known as NAMICA (Nag Missile Carrier). With the IR version of the missile, targets are acquired using a thermal sight, and are then assigned to the nose-mounted IIR seeker.

Missile guidance is initially by area correlation around the target, then by centroid tracking. Terminal homing is by area correlation around the centroid.

Nag will be configured to be used on the Advanced Light Helicopter(ALH) and the HAL Light Combat Helicopter(LCH). This version will be known as HELINA (HELIcopter NAg). Eight missiles are carried in two quadruple launchers. Launchers mounted on either side are linked to a nose-mounted stabilized thermal sight and a laser range-finder package.

The NAMICA version of the missile is a 'lock-on before launch' system. This is where the target is identified and designated before the missile is launched. As the targeting system is based on visual identification, the range is limited. The HELINA version on the other hand will use a 'lock-on after launch' system extending its range to 7 km. In this scenario, the missile is launched in the general direction of the target. As it approaches the target, images of the area ahead are sent back to the operator who will be able to identify enemy tanks. The command to lock on to a tank is then passed onto the seeker through an uplink mid-flight. After that, the missile homes in onto the target and destroys it.^[1]

The name NAG was synonym to snake; the missile was named as NAG because of its trajectory path. This missile doesn't follow the elliptical path as other missiles but rather, it hits the target as a snake hits its enemies. The missile goes near to target in elliptical path and suddenly raises upwards and then bends at a certain angle and hits the target.

Advanced variants

A closeup of the Nag missile head, with the Imaging Infrared (IIR) Seeker

In addition to basic land and helicopter variants the DRDO is now developing number of advanced variants of the Nag missile:

• Helina, (HELIcopter launched NAg)with a range of 7–8 km, launched from twin-tube stub wing-mounted launchers on board the armed HAL Dhruv and HAL Light Combat Helicopter produced by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). It will be structurally different from the Nag. The Helina will make use of an IIR seeker for target engagement like the Nag. Launchers have been cleared for captive carriage trials and handed over to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for carriage trials. The Helina was expected to be tested by the end of 2010. The first ground launches of the missiles were conducted in 2011. During which the missile was launched onto a target and launched. While the missile was in flight, a second target was chosen for the missile to hit which got destroyed. This demonstrated the capability of the missile to lock onto and hit another target while in flight.A 2-way RF command-video data link has been released which is intended to be fired from HAL ALH.^[3]
• land version, will also have its range extended by development of a mast-mounted missile launcher that will be hydraulically raised out to a height of five metres to enable the Nag missile to acquire its targets out to a distance of 7–8 km.
• Air-launched, 10 km-range variant launched from tactical interdiction aircraft like the upgraded Jaguar IS. It will use a nose-mounted millimetric-wave active radar seeker.
• Man portable, DRDL will also start working on the,`Man Portable' Nag very soon. It would weigh less than 14 kg.^[4]

Namica

NAMICA (Nag Missile Carrier)is a tank destroyer built for the army. It is equipped with a thermal imager for target acquisition. NAMICA is a modified BMP-2 ICV produced as "Sarath" in India. The carrier weights 14.5 tonnes in full combat load and is capable of moving 7 km/h in water. The carriers are capable of carrying 12 missiles with 8 in ready-to-fire mode. The NAMICA carrier was put through transportation trials covering 155 km during summer trials.^[5]

Status

Nag was last test fired as part of user validation trials on July 16, 2010 and will be inducted into the Indian army. ^[6]

Nag was successfully test fired for the second day in a row on August 8, 2008 from the Test Range at Pokhran, Rajastan, marking the completion of the developmental tests. The DRDO and Indian Army plan to hold the user trial shortly.^[7] These trials will be the final trials to decide the induction of the missiles.^[8] The NAMICA carrier successfully completed its amphibious trials in the Indira Gandhi Canal at Rajastan on August 8, 2008.^[9]

The Indian Army has placed an order of 443 Nag missiles and 13 Namicas for introduction in the next 3 years.^[2] Nag will be the first weapon of such kind that will be inducted into the army by November–December 2009. The Army urgently needs the more advanced Nag to improve kill probability as the missile using a high explosive warhead to penetrate the armor in modern tanks.^[7]

As part of the winter trial of the final user trials the Nag missile was tested successfully by the Indian Army on December 26, 2008. Before the induction of the missile into service and the summer trials will be carried out in June 2009.^[10]

During the winter trials the Nag missile zeroed in on the precise location of the target tank at a distance of 3.3 km, as required by the Indian Army. The Indian Army is also extremely satisfied with the performance of the warhead of the missile.^[11] The test conducted on 28 December 2008 was successfully completed by the Indian Army. During the test a moving target at 1.8 km was targeted in the top attack mode and a stationary target at a distance of 3.1 km. The two targets were completely destroyed.^[12] A total of five missiles were fired during day and night against stationary and moving targets. Summer trials were completed in the summer of 2009.^[13]

In July 2009 the Nag anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) was cleared for production.^[14] The production of the Nag missile was ordered after successful summer trials were carried out in the Rajasthan desert.

The trials of the missile were conducted using an advanced imaging infrared seeker head, as per Army's requirements. On 20 January 2010, field tests of the Nag’s Thermal Sight system saw the system identify and lock on to a T-55 tank at a range of 5 km. The tank was then engaged and destroyed at a range of over 4 km [12] thus the missile’s fire-and-forget capability has been established using the day version of the IIR passive seeker.In its IIR form the Nag has limited all weather capability. This has given added impetus to develop the mmW seeker. Efforts are on to provide special embedded on-board hunters, that can hunt for targets using ‘day seekers’ and ‘day-&-night seekers’. During trials in June 2010, the short range capability of the missile to hit targets was validated. Nag missile hit a target at a range of half a kilometers in just 3 seconds.^[15] In the follow on test a moving target was hit within 3.2 seconds after launch.^[16] The final user trials were held during July 2010 and successfully completed. The missile has been cleared for mass production. Bharat dynamics plans to produce 100 missiles per year. The Nag missile will replace the second generation anti-tank missiles in Army armoury.^[17]

The Nag will replace the existing Russian Konkours and European missile Milan, both of which are manufactured under license by Bharat Dynamics Limited. An Indian official said a country in the Middle East had shown keen interest in Nag anti-tank guided missiles during Abu Dhabi Defence Expo-2009.

Nag has successfully completed its final validation trials and is expected to join the Indian Army in 2011.Two missiles were launched against a moving target at a time another two missiles were launched against a stationary Vijayanta tank in quick succession and successfully hit the targets.Indian Army is happy with the performance and is expected to buy 443 missiles for 335 crore (US$67.9 million).^[18]

The project suffered a delay of one year due to army changing its requirements with the carrier of the missile (NaMiCa) at the last moment.^[19]

The final test of the missile with certain modifications to launch pad and the target settings with respect to range, are to be carried out at Pokhran field firing range.^[20]

Operators

•  India: Indian army : 443 Nag missiles along with 13 NaMiCA carriers are to be inducted into the Army's arsenal by 2011 with the successful completion of “final validation trials” in Rajasthan. ^[21]

Specifications

Attack Mode: Lock-on-before-Launch - Top attack
Seeker: IIR cadmium zinc telluride (CdZnTe)
Single-shot hit probability: 0.77
CEP: 0.9 m R.S

See also

Comparable weapons

• PARS 3 LR
• Spike (missile)
• FGM-148 Javelin
  

Related lists

• List of anti-tank guided missiles
• List of missiles
  

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Army opts for Nag missile as it enters final trials
2. ^ ^{a b} Nag anti-tank missile back in reckoning
3. ^ HELINA missile's two way RF-command video datalink realised
4. ^ http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/03/25/stories/2005032501700400.htm
5. ^ Nag missile testfired
6. ^ [1]
7. ^ ^{a b} Nag test-fired again
8. ^ Nag Missile to be tested by Indian Army in July
9. ^ Namica amphibious trial successful
10. ^ India successfully test fires anti-tank missile
11. ^ Anti-tank Nag missile test-fired successfully
12. ^ Two flight tests of Nag missile successful
13. ^ Army may induct Nag missile soon
14. ^ India Clears Anti-Tank Nag Missile for Production
15. ^ Nag hits target in three seconds after launch
16. ^ Nag hits a moving target in 3.2 seconds
17. ^ Nag's final validation trials completed
18. ^ Hindu_2010_07_16_Nag_Final_Trials
19. ^ "Nag induction likely to be delayed". The Hindu (Chennai, India). April 19, 2011. http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/19/stories/2011041957821000.htm. 
20. ^ "Third generation Nag test-firing in Pokhran soon". Time of India (Jaisalmer, India). October 6, 2011. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Third-generation-Nag-test-firing-in-Pokhran-soon/articleshow/10251157.cms. 
21. ^ "Nag's final validation trials completed". The Hindu (Chennai, India). July 16, 2010. http://www.hindu.com/2010/07/16/stories/2010071653531500.htm. 

External links

• Nag ATGM
• Nag test video