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Nag (Cobra) Dhruvastra / HeliNa (Helicopter-launched Nag) anti-tank missile

The HeliNa is a variant of the Nag range of missiles. The Nag missiles are completely indigenously developed and built. Nag missiles are India's only range of anti-tank missiles. The HeliNa is an upgraded Nag missiles that can be launched from attack helicopters. The current generation of HeliNa is also called the Dhruvastra, and are infrared capable, and can be guided remotely by an operator. Like all Nags, it can also be fired in a way which allows the pilot to just lock-on to a target, fire the missile and not track the shot.

Helina (Helicopter-launched Nag) is air launched version of the Nag ATGM with extended range. It is designed and developed by Defence Research And Development Organisation (DRDO). It is guided by an Infrared Imaging Seeker (IIR) operating in the Lock- On-Before-Launched(LOBL) mode and Lock-On-After-Launched (LOAL) mode for target engagement. The IIR seeker has a 640×512 pixel resolution. It supports both top attack and direct attack. It has completed all its user trials from 2015-2020 and it is ready of induction. The missile is guided by an Infrared Imaging Seeker (IIR) operating in the Lock on Before Launch mode. It is claimed to be one of the most advanced Anti-Tank Weapons in the world.

The Helicopter-launched Nag Missile (HeliNa - HELINA - the Army version), has been named as 'Dhruvastra' (Indian Airforce version). The meaning of dhruv is 'Pole star, Immovable, Eternal, Firm. Dhruv is the name of a prince who was blessed by Lord Vishnu with eternal life. NAG ANTI-TANK MISSILE - the fire and forget anti-tank missile with top attack capability is an important missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation [DRDO] under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program.

HELINA is a third-generation fire and forget class anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system mounted on the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH). Dhruvastra now has a vane system for TVC. Third Generation Helicopter Launch AntiTank Guided Missile ‘Helina’: Helina is a 3rd generation helicopter lauch anti-tank guided missile with 7 km lock-on-before-launch (LOBL) range capability with imaging infra-red (IIR) for integration on ALH-WSI. The Missile is guided by an Infrared Imaging Seeker (IIR) operating in the Lock on Before Launch mode. It is one of the most advanced Anti-Tank Weapons in the world.

The helicopter mounted version, Helina, underwent 2 successful flights from ground launcher proving full range of the missile during 2012. Trials of this third generation 'fire and forget' missile were conducted from the Pokhran firing range and Integrated Test Range at Chandipur and dubbed as successful. On July 8, 2013, seeker evaluation trials for anti-tank missile were carried out in hot desert conditions in Rajasthan at Pokhran. The trials were against both moving and static targets for different ranges of 2.8 km and 3.2 km to evaluate the performance of an improved version of Imaging Infrared seeker. While Nag missile has a maximum range of 4 km, the IIR seeker proved to be accurate only up to 2.5 km in extremely hot conditions in the trials.

Program ‘Helina’ had successfully established the safe separation from ALH and programmed control performance over full range during earlier flight campaigns. Flight test campaign of ‘Helina’ was conducted in July 2015 at Chandan, Rajasthan wherein three missiles were test fired from ALH-WSI. During the flight trials, the complete Helina weapon system performance was successfully proven.

The indigenously developed Helicopter launched Anti-Tank Guided Missile ‘HELINA’ was successfully flight tested from Army Helicopter at 1400hrs in the ranges of Pokhran, 19 August 2018. The weapon system has been tested for its full range. The ‘HELINA’ weapon system released smoothly from the launch platform tracked the target all through its course and hit the target with high precision. All the parameters have been monitored by the telemetry stations, tracking systems and the Helicopters. Raksha Mantri Smt Nirmala Sitharaman congratulated the DRDO and the Indian Army on the successful flight test for further strengthening the defence capabilities of the country. Senior officials from DRDO and Indian Army were present during the mission.

Joint User Trials for Helina (Army Version) and Dhruvastra (Air Force Version) Missile Systems were carried out from Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) platform in desert ranges in February 2021. The missile systems have been designed and developed indigenously by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Five missions were carried out for evaluating the missile capabilities in minimum and maximum range. The missiles were fired in hover and max forward flight against realistic static and moving targets. Some missions were carried out with warheads against derelict tanks. A mission was carried out against a moving target from a forward flying helicopter. It hit the target five out of five times at the range and now was ready for induction on HAL Rudra and light combat helicopters.

India on 11 April 2022 successfully flight-tested anti-tank guided missile Helina, which was launched from an indigenously-developed helicopter, at high-altitude ranges. The flight-test was jointly conducted by team of scientists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Indian Army, and the Indian Air Force, as part of the user validation trials. The flight trials were conducted from an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and the missile was fired successfully engaging simulated tank target.

The indigenously developed anti-tank guided missile ‘Helina’ was successfully launched again on 12 April 2022. The second launch was carried out at different ranges and attitudes and is a part of the ongoing user validation trials. As per the plan, the missile was launched from an advanced light helicopter and the missile engaged the simulated tank target accurately.

Consistent performance of the complete system including Infrared Imaging (IIR) seeker has been established, which will enable the induction of Helina into the armed forces. The significance of helicopter launched missile has assumed significance after the stand-off with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in east Ladakh with the China deploying a large number of armour and rocket regiments in the battle theatre. HELINA provides an option of taking down enemy tank beyond its range by using the fire and forget mode.