As report from Army Recognition, the Indian Ministry of Defense has successfully tested the HELINA anti-tank guided missile on April 12, 2022.
In the second such test, HELINA was launched from a light helicopter from a high altitude.
Personnel from the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army conducted the high-altitude test with the participation of the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
As part of the tests, live shooting was conducted for different ranges and heights to test the capabilities of HELINA.
Test results showed the missile destroying the simulated tank target with high accuracy. These tests were conducted with the participation of senior army commanders and a delegation of scientists from DRDO.
Previously validation tests for HELINA was conducted at Pokhran, Rajasthan, proving the effectiveness of the anti-tank missile in a dry, dusty, desert environment.
In in-flight tests, the missile is guided by an infrared search engine (IIR) operating in lock-on mode before launch (LOBL). Incidentally, all HELINA systems, including the infrared image search device, have shown stable performance.
LOBL, is a legacy method of launch, with the newer method being Lock-on After Launch (LOAL). The LOAL is a modern capability which enables the missile to lock on to the target after being launched from the carrier vehicle.
About HELINA
HELINA is a third-generation anti-tank guided missile which can be fired at targets in both direct strike mode and top attack mode. It can be used both in the day as well as at night, in a variety of weather conditions; it can also attack conventional armored battle tanks as well as explosive jet armored main battle tanks.
HELINA was designed to support both the Indian Army airborne forces as well as the Indian mechanized infantry. Thus, it has been designed to be launched from ground as well as from air platforms.
While the ground version of the missile is offered integrated with the Nag missile carrier (NAMICA), the airborne variant can be launched from a helicopter, and thus is called NAG Helicopter Launch (HELINA).
Once tests on HELINA are successfully complete, the missile will be fitted onto the advanced light helicopter “Dhruv” as well as on the attack helicopter Rudra.
Both helicopters are manufactured by India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
