India's Light Tank with Nag Mk II Missile Achieves Successful Test, Moves Closer to Army Induction
In a significant achievement for India's domestic defense sector, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) have successfully conducted a test of the Nag Mk II Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) using the newly developed Light Tank platform. This successful test underscores India's progress in bolstering its self-reliant defense capabilities as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
The Light Tank, which was designed and developed by the Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) of DRDO and built by L&T, demonstrated its effective firepower by launching the Nag Mk II missile. The missile precisely hit a target located five kilometers away, meeting all essential performance criteria such as accuracy, range, and attack mode capabilities.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lauded DRDO, the Indian Army, and industry partners for this accomplishment, describing it as "a proud moment for India's indigenous defense ecosystem" and an indication of the nation's expanding technological expertise in armoured warfare systems.
Defence experts have recognized the successful demonstration as a significant leap in India's battlefield readiness, especially along the western frontier with Pakistan, where armored and anti-tank strategies are crucial to ground operations.
The Light Tank and Nag Mk II combination is intended to give the Indian Army a strategic edge in both desert and high-altitude regions like Rajasthan and Ladakh. The Nag Mk II, a third-generation, fire-and-forget missile, is engineered to neutralize advanced enemy tanks protected with explosive reactive armor and countermeasures. With its capability to hit targets up to 5 kilometers away in both top-attack and direct-attack modes, the missile enhances India's anti-armour capabilities across varied terrains.
Experts emphasize that the Light Tank's high mobility, combined with the Nag Mk II’s superior targeting precision, enables rapid deployment and engagement of enemy armor even in GPS-denied or low-visibility conditions, a vital factor in current fast-paced battle scenarios.
The indigenous design and production of the system signify a pivotal move towards minimizing reliance on foreign defense systems, providing the Indian Army with greater operational independence. The Light Tank–Nag Mk II combination, upon induction, is poised to be a key element of India's next-generation armored warfare capability, strengthening the nation's ability to effectively respond to any cross-border threats or armored challenges.
The successful execution of this test paves the way for the formal induction of the platform into active service, marking another step forward in India's pursuit of self-reliance in advanced defense technologies.
