Advantages of MMW Seeker Over IR Seeker in an ATGM

Nag ATGM at Aero India 2011. Photo Credit: Vijainder K Thakur

DRDO plans to fit a MMW (Millimeter Wave) seeker on the Helina missile, which it successfully tested in Pokharan on Sunday, September 22, 2013.

Currently, the missile features a IR cum Image Co-relation seeker.

What's the big deal about a MMW seeker? Here is an attempt to answer the question.

1. MMW seekers are more suited to battlefield environment as they perform better in fog, mist, dust and smoke, but not rain. IR seeker capabilities get moderately degraded with weather (fog, mist) and more severely by battlefield obscurants such as dust and smoke.

2. MMW seekers are capable of doppler detection of moving targets.

3. MMW seekers allow for low drag nose shape of missile warheads.

4. MMW seekers are capable of providing range and range rate information for accurate triggering of proximity fuse.

For additional details about the Nag ATGM, please visit the link below.

IDP Sentinel - Nag / Helina ATGM