The MPATGM, or Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile, is an indigenously developed, third-generation, fire-and-forget weapon system designed for the Indian Army's infantry and special forces. It is a missile system, not an act or scheme, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The project's formal development was sanctioned by the Ministry of Defence on January 27, 2015, to provide a lightweight, portable anti-tank capability. The primary problem it solves is the need to replace the Indian Army's older, second-generation anti-tank guided missiles, such as the French MILAN and Russian 9M113 Konkurs, which lack modern features like fire-and-forget and top-attack modes. The MPATGM is a key component of India's Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative in the defence sector.
The system works on a fire-and-forget principle, meaning the operator can relocate immediately after launch, enhancing survivability. It is equipped with an advanced Imaging Infrared (IIR) homing seeker and a tandem warhead. The tandem warhead is crucial as it is designed to defeat modern main battle tanks protected by Explosive Reactive Armour. The missile has a maximum range of 2.5 km and can be launched from a tripod or a handheld launcher. A key mechanism is its top-attack capability, which strikes the less-armoured top section of a tank.
The MPATGM is a derivative of the Nag anti-tank missile family, but miniaturized for man-portability. It is comparable to international systems like the American FGM-148 Javelin and the Israeli Spike missile. The system has recently concluded its developmental phase; the critical warhead flight trials were successfully conducted at the Pokhran Field Firing Range on April 13, 2024, demonstrating its ability to defeat modern armour. The system is now ready for final user evaluation trials before its induction into the Indian Army. Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) are the Development-cum-Production Partners for the weapon system.