New Delhi: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract with Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL) for the procurement of the Nag Missile System (NAMIS) Tracked version of the anti-tank weapon platform, and with Force Motors Ltd and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd for around 5,000 Light Vehicles for the armed forces, at a total cost of around Rs 2,500 crore.
These contracts have been inked under the Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category.
The total cost of the contract for the procurement of the NAMIS (Tracked) weapon system, developed by the Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) of the DRDO, is Rs 1,801.34 crore, the MoD said in a statement.
This system will be operated by frontline mechanised infantry troops.
The MoD said that the NAMIS (Tracked) is one of the most “sophisticated” anti-tank weapon systems. It is equipped with enemy armour with fire-and-forget anti-tank missiles and a sighting system for enhanced firepower and lethality.
Explaining the capabilities of this missile, a source in the Indian Army told ThePrint that the third-generation fire-and-forget missile is mounted on the BMP-2 armoured chassis and that it also has amphibious capabilities. It is called NAMICA (Nag Missile Carrier). The missile can lock on before launch and is equipped with an imaging infrared (IIR) seeker.
The source added, “It is an all-weather system with a range of 500 metres to 4 km. The warhead is said to weigh 8 kg and can reach speeds of roughly up to 230 metres per second,” the source added.
The source also said that the vehicle can carry six Nag missiles in a ready-to-fire configuration. “The vehicle has a rapid launch capability, allowing all six missiles to be fired within 20 seconds,” the source said.
The contract signing comes weeks after ThePrint reported that the Army was facing an anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) deficiency. Moreover, even in the existing “outdated inventory” of second-generation ATGMs, the Army is short of approximately 50 percent of launchers and nearly 85 percent of missiles concerning the total requirement.
Light Vehicles
Light Vehicles are designed with enhanced engine power to cater to a payload of 800 kg and will provide mobility to the armed forces in all types of terrain and operational conditions.
Light Vehicles are used to transport soldiers quickly and efficiently to forward locations. Their compact size allows them to navigate rough terrains that larger vehicles usually face challenges in.
They facilitate the movement of supplies, equipment, and ammunition to frontline units.