Nag, the third-generation anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) working on the fire-and-forget principle, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has failed in its user trials held in Rajasthan.
While its induction into the Army has been delayed for a long time, recent trials held in Rajasthan yielded only a 25-per cent success rate in terms of hitting the target. Top Army officers have reportedly expressed strong disagreement over the the Nag’s performance claims to DRDO.
Nag is part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme of the DRDO and is based on imaging infra-red (IIR) passive seeker technology for ensuring high accuracy.
Plans to build a wire-guided system for the Nag were shelved by DRDO. As per reports, even the Namica (Nag Missile Carrier) for the terrestrial version of the Nag only partially satisfied the Army and DRDO officials during the trials.
A helicopter version of Nag, termed Helina, is also on its way. Unlike the Namica, which works on a ‘lock-on before launch’ system, Helina uses a technology called ‘lock-on after launch’.
The Army which waiting for its order of 400 Nag missiles and about 13 Namicas, is left with no option other than to go for the US Javelin ATGMs.
The US is ready to sell the Javelins via the Foreign Military Sales (FMS), which, though quick, will turn out to be an expensive affair.
For the time being, the Army will purchase more second generation Russian Konkurs-M missiles, which it is already using.
The Army which is also using the French Milan missiles was also disappointed by the failure of the Israeli Spike missile.
The failure of the Nag could thus turn out to be extremely expensive. The government has already spent about Rs1,700 crore on developing the Nag which even after the long time gap has failed to satisfy its main user, the Army.