India has made a big step forward in its domestic military capabilities with the successful test launch of the NAG MK-2 Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) from the country’s new light tank, Zorawar.
The test, conducted under the supervision of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is a significant step forward in the country’s efforts to update its armoured warfare systems while promoting self-reliance through the Atmanirbharta programme.
The Zorawar light tank was conceived and developed by DRDO’s Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) in Chennai, and is manufactured by Larsen & Toubro. This collaborative development incorporates modern combat and mobility technologies, transforming Zorawar into a formidable platform capable of fighting in a variety of terrains, including high-altitude regions and deserts, where larger tanks have operational constraints.
During the trials, the Zorawar successfully demonstrated its ability to launch the NAG MK-2 missile, meeting all of the performance requirements. These included effective engagement of targets at predetermined ranges, superior maneuverability, and great accuracy in direct and top-attack modes.
The NAG MK-2, an improvement of DRDO’s well-established Nag missile family, has improved seekers, increased penetration capacity, and superior guidance precision versus modern armoured threats.
Minister Rajnath Singh praised DRDO and its related teams for reaching this milestone, stating that the fire experiments demonstrate India’s ability to integrate complex weapon systems on indigenous combat platforms. He stated that the display not only proves the Zorawar’s combat readiness, but also highlights the growing collaboration between India’s public and private defense industries.
DRDO officials noted that the effective integration of the NAG MK-2 missile system on the Zorawar tank illustrates a whole indigenous capability chain, from design and development to production and operational validation.
This victory enhances India’s armoured corps by providing a lighter, more flexible, and equally lethal platform for rapid deployment in sensitive operations zones like the northern frontier.
The successful missile launch shows DRDO’s overall commitment to improving local defense manufacture and minimizing reliance on foreign suppliers. Following user review by the Indian Army, the Zorawar light tank is scheduled to start series production after further trials and adjustments, marking a key change in India’s armoured force modernisation and self-sufficient defense ecosystem.
