In a breakthrough in indigenous seeker technology for missiles, an RF (radio frequency) seeker was successfully flight-tested in anti-tank Nag missile in the Army ranges at Ahmednagar in Rajasthan on Sunday.
While the scientists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation had so far developed Imaging Infra-red (IIR) seeker, this was the first time that a millimetric Wave (mmW) seeker, having all-weather capability, was tried for a 2,000 metre range in a successful mission.
Chief Controller R& D, (Missiles and Strategic Systems), DRDO, Avinash Chander, told The Hindu : “this is a breakthrough for seeker capability in the country.” This would provide solutions for applications in surface-to-air missiles, air-to-air missiles, anti-tank missiles and air-to-surface missiles. It would also provide the technology base for changing to dual-mode seeker in future.
The mmW seeker was designed and developed by scientists at Research Centre Imarat (RCI), one of the key laboratories of the DRDO's missile complex here.
In elite club
RCI Director S.K. Ray said very few countries possessed the technology to develop mmW seeker.
Nag Project Director S. S. Mishra said that in Sunday's flight, the seeker's capability to track the target in a ‘Lock-on-Before-Launch' method, right from the missile's firing and throughout the trajectory, was successfully demonstrated. In future, the seeker would be used in a system in ‘Lock-on-After-Launch' mode for extension of the range.
Deliverable version
The production of the third generation hit-to-kill Nag missile is expected to commence after the final user trials with deliverable version of missile carrier NAMICA are conducted next summer. Modifications and improvements have been carried out in NAMICA as per the Army's requirements.
The four-km range Nag missile has top-attack capability to nullify the explosive reactive armour of a modern battle tank.
