India tests Dhruvastra helicopter missile
India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted three ground-based tests of its Nag/Helina helicopter-launched missile on 15-16 July in direct and top-attack modes. To be called the Dhruvastra by the Indian Air Force (IAF), the missile is slowly edging closer to induction.
More trials will be held jointly by the Indian Army and IAF by the end of the year for integration on the Rudra Advanced Light Helicopter (Weapon System Integrated) helicopter and followed by pre-production batches of the Light Combat Helicopter before 2021.
The 1.9m-long 45kg Dhruvastra has a range of 500m-7km. Eight missiles can be attached
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