Aerospace

Anti-Tank Guided Missile ‘HELINA’ successfully flight tested

The ‘HELINA,’ an indigenously developed helicopter-launched Anti-Tank Guided Missile, was successfully flight tested at high-altitude ranges on April 11, 2022 as part of user validation trials. Teams of experts from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Indian Army, and the Indian Air Force collaborated on the flying test (IAF).

The missile was successfully fired at a simulated tank target during flight trials from an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH). An Imaging Infrared (IIR) Seeker working in the Lock on Before Launch mode guides the missile. It is one of the world’s most advanced anti-tank weapons.

The Indian firepower has increased, as one more weapon has been added to the arsenal. Yesterday, the Helina indigenously manufactured helicopter successfully launched anti-tank guided missiles.

Flight tests of the indigenously designed Anti-Tank Guided Missile ‘HELINA’ from an Advanced Light Helicopter were conducted at high altitudes with the involvement of the Indian Army and Airforce.

The Advanced Light Helicopter is equipped with a third-generation fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile system.

The Defence Research and Development Laboratory in Hyderabad created it.

The Helina, according to DRDO experts, has an operational range of 500 metres to 20 kilometres and can engage targets in both direct hit and top strike modes.

Proof of efficacy at high altitudes, in addition to validation studies conducted in Pokhran, Rajasthan, open the door for its inclusion on the ALH. Senior Army officers and DRDO experts were present during the experiments.

Mantri Raksha Mantri Raksha Mantri Raksha Man Shri Rajnath Singh complimented the DRDO and the Indian Army on their first joint success. Dr. G Satheesh Reddy, Secretary of the Department of Defense R&D and Chairman of the DRDO, praised the teams for their outstanding performance under difficult conditions.

HELINA (Helicopter based NAG) is a third generation fire and forget class anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system mounted on the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH). The system has all weather day and night capability and can defeat battle tanks with conventional armour as well as explosive reactive armour. The HELINA missile can engage targets both in direct hit mode as well as top attack mode. HELINA Weapon Systems is being inducted into the Indian Army (IA). A variant of HELINA Weapon System called DHRUVASTRA is being inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Aerospace

When Ratan Tata was denied entry to the airfield at the Aero India show, he waited

During our visit to Aero India 2019, we had the unexpected opportunity to see Ratan Tata at the event, which was a thrilling moment for us. However, there was a surprising hiccup when the security staff didn’t allow him to enter due to a lack of a security pass.

Despite this, he remained calm and patiently waited for about 20 minutes until a member of the Tata team brought him the required pass, after which he calmly proceeded inside. It was a humbling sight, showcasing his composed demeanor even in such situations.

Ratan Tata ji is not only a renowned industrialist but also a trained pilot, holding a pilot’s license. In 2007, he became the first Indian civilian to fly the F-16 Falcon during the Aero India show in Bangalore—a proud moment for the nation.

His passion for aviation extended beyond flying, as he played a key role in shaping India’s aerospace industry. Under his leadership, Tata ventured into manufacturing and maintaining aerospace components while upholding its legacy of quality. Notably, Tata’s collaboration with Airbus to develop and manufacture the C295 aircraft is a testament to its growing influence in the sector.