The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)’s Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MP-ATGM) has successfully completed user trials and is now cleared for induction into the Indian Army, officials said on Monday. Concurrently, Army authorities have moved the procurement process forward for a fourth-generation ATGM, issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to invite industry participation for a next-gen system.
The indigenous MP-ATGM, developed with key industry participation from Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for production, demonstrated robust performance during comprehensive evaluations at the Pokhran range, Rajasthan. Trial reports indicate the missile’s tandem warhead reliably defeated modern reactive armour configurations, meeting the Indian Army’s lethality requirements against contemporary main battle tanks.
Key features and performance highlights of MP-ATGM:
• Guidance: Imaging Infrared (IIR) seeker with AI-assisted image processing; fire-and-forget capability.
• Modes: Top-attack and direct-attack.
• Range: ~200 metres to 2.5 kilometres.
• Weight: Launch unit under ~15 kg, optimised for infantry mobility.
• Warhead: Tandem HEAT effective against ERA and modern armour.
• Indigenisation: Fully indigenous design with BDL poised for production.
Officials described the MP-ATGM as a cost-effective, terrain-adapted replacement for legacy second-generation systems such as MILAN and Konkurs, offering a modern, home-grown capability for infantry and special forces. Production readiness at BDL was reported to be underway following completion of acceptance trials.
At the same time, the Army has finalised an RFP for a 4th-generation ATGM programme intended to field a longer-range, networked, multi-mode seeker weapon capable of defeating active protection systems (APS) on next-generation armoured platforms. Defence sources say the prospective 4th-gen system will emphasise features such as:
• Multimode seekers (IIR + radar/laser/BLOS),
• Networked fire-control and team tactics,
• Higher range and guided terminal manoeuvring,
• Make-2/Make pathway to encourage public-private partnerships and assured orders for successful prototypes.
Officials indicated that the Make-2 procurement route is under consideration to accelerate industry innovation and involve private sector OEMs alongside DPSUs, with the aim of strengthening indigenous R&D and manufacturing capacity in advanced anti-armour weapons.
Context and competition:
The MP-ATGM joins a field of global ATGMs such as the Israeli Spike family and the American Javelin, but differs in role and reach. While MP-ATGM provides a lightweight, highly portable domestic option for short-to-medium ranges (up to 2.5 km), planned future acquisitions seek to close capability gaps at longer ranges and against modern APS-equipped armoured formations.
What’s next:
BDL is expected to scale up production after formal induction orders. The 4th-gen ATGM RFP will open opportunities for prototype development and evaluation under Make-2 guidelines; demonstrations and user trials are likely to follow before selection and production contracts are awarded.
