Flight test of the indigenously developed anti-tank guided missile Helina. Credit: Defence Research and Development Organisation/ Government of India/ commons.wikimedia.org.

India has conducted flight testing of the helicopter launched, anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) Helina at high-altitude ranges.

The flight test is part of the user validation trials of the missile system.

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During the test, an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) fired a missile to engage a simulated tank target.

The Helina ATGM, said to be one of the most advanced anti-tank weapons in the world, was guided by an Imaging Infra-Red (IIR) Seeker, operating in the Lock on Before Launch mode.

A team of scientists from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted the test, with the participation of the Indian Army and Indian Air Force (IAF).

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and DRDO chairman Dr G Satheesh Reddy congratulated the team for the successful testing of the Helina anti-tank missile.

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In a statement, the Indian Ministry of Defence said: “In continuation to validation trials conducted at Pokhran in Rajasthan, proof of efficacy at high altitudes paves the way for its integration on the ALH.

“The trials were witnessed by senior Army commanders, and senior scientists of the DRDO.”

According to the DRDO website, the Helina is a third-generation fire-and-forget class ATGM.

It comes with all-weather capability and can be used against battle tanks equipped with conventional armour, as well as explosive reactive armour.

The system is currently being inducted into the Indian Army. The IAF will receive another variant of the missile system called Dhruvastra.

The Indian Army and the DRDO recently conducted flight tests of an upgraded version of the Pinaka rocket system.