New Delhi, Jan 12 (NationPress) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commended the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the successful flight test of the Third Generation Fire and Forget Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM), featuring top attack capabilities, as stated by an official.

The missile was effectively tested against a moving target in KK Ranges, Ahilya Nagar, Maharashtra, conducted by DRDO’s Defence Research & Development Laboratory in Hyderabad on Sunday, according to the official statement.

Rajnath Singh extended his congratulations to the industry for the successful test, calling it a crucial milestone towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Expressing appreciation for the team, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO, Samir V Kamat, noted that the trial target was successfully engaged, paving the way for the weapon system to be inducted into the Indian Army.

The indigenously developed MPATGM incorporates advanced indigenous technologies, such as the Imaging Infrared (IIR) Homing Seeker, an all-electric Control Actuation System, a Fire Control System, a Tandem Warhead, and a high-performance sighting system, all developed by DRDO's associated laboratories.

These collaborating labs include Research Centre Imarat in Hyderabad, Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory in Chandigarh, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory in Pune, and Instruments Research and Development Establishment in Dehradun.

The Thermal Target System was designed by the Defence Laboratory in Jodhpur to mimic the target tank. The IIR seeker is proficient in both day and night combat operations, and the warhead is designed to defeat contemporary main battle tanks.

Bharat Dynamics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited serve as the Development-Cum-Production Partners (DcPP) for this weapon system. The missile can be launched from a Tripod or a Military Vehicle Launcher, as stated in the announcement.

Previously, on Friday, Defence Minister Singh referred to the youth of the nation as the catalyst for India's aspirations to evolve into a Viksit Bharat by 2047, encouraging them to "dream big" while advising against allowing those dreams to become burdensome.

He acknowledged the various accomplishments of the youth and expressed his faith in their creativity, ambition, and resolve to elevate India among developed nations.

He urged the youth to adopt multidisciplinary learning, staying abreast of emerging domains such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotechnology, and space exploration.

"Learning is a continuous process. Draw lessons from new practices, your own errors, and the experiences of others. Dream big—but do not allow those dreams to weigh you down," Defence Minister Singh advised.