DAC Approves HELINA Missiles For Rudra Helicopters: A Made-In-India Boost To Army's Anti-Tank Capabilities

The Defence Acquisitions Council (DAC) headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh this evening approved the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to buy 3 systems, including Helicopter launched NAG (HELINA) anti-tank missile.

HELINA will be used from Rudra, an armed variant of the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv, manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The Rudra can carry a maximum of 8 HELINAs on its wing-mounted launchers.

The missile has been developed by the DRDO and is capable of engaging tanks at ranges of about 7-8 KM using its advanced infra-red (IIR) seeker operating in the lock-on-before-launch mode. DRDO claims it is one of the most advanced anti-tank missiles in the world.

HELINA was last successfully tested in April 2022 at the Pokhran testing range in Rajasthan and proved successful on all test parameters. 

The missile carries an 8-kilogram warhead and is able to engage targets in all weather conditions, both during the day and at night.

It can defeat tanks with both conventional armour and explosive reactive armour in both direct and top-attack modes. In top-attack mode, the missile rises and hits from the top, which is the least protected part of the tank.

The DAC has granted AON for two more systems, BrahMos missile launchers for the Shivalik class frigate and Next-generation missile vessels of the Navy and Very-Short Range Air-Defence Systems (VSHORADS) for the Army.