The Hindu : National : Nag test-fired again

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Nag test-fired again

HYDERABAD: For the second day in a row, DRDO scientists successfully test-fired the third generation anti-tank missile, Nag, at Pokhran in Rajasthan. Moments after the launch around 10.15 a.m. on Wednesday, the rocket zeroed in on a “moving target” and shattered it to smithereens.

Launched from the dedicated missile carrier, Namica, the fire-and-forget missile hit the specially-designed target, which was moving on rails at an intermediate range of two km. It was successfully test-fired against a stationary target at the maximum range of four km on Tuesday.

Talking to The Hindu, P. Venugopalan, Director, Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), said: “Hundred per cent objectives of the trial had been achieved”, marking the completion of the developmental tests. The Defence Research and Development Organisation and the user would together plan holding user-trials shortly. He hoped that Nag production would begin next year.

Project director S. S. Mishra said the moving target was specifically designed by the Army for the mission. The developmental trials established the ruggedness of the entire system to travel long distances in harsh terrain. The DRDO scientists plan to evaluate Namica’s “flotation performance” in water on Thursday. The carrier with eight missiles on-board would be tested to see whether it could move without sinking.

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