BDL unveils new target missile Amogha-III

Hyderabad: Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) unveiled Amogha–III, a third-generation anti-tank guided missile, on 7 February at the Lucknow Defence Expo-2020.

The missile was handed over by BDL commodore Siddharth Mishra (retd) to defence minister Rajnath Singh in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, minister of state for defence Shripad Naik, defence secretary Dr Ajay Kumar, and chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Dr G. Satheesh Reddy.

Amogha-III, developed by BDL with help from DRDO, has a dual-mode IIR seeker with a range of 200 to 2,500 metres. The missile is equipped with a tandem warhead for top and direct attack mode and is "man-portable", which means it can easily attack low-flying aircraft like helicopters.

The BDL officials said after successful trials the aircraft will be commercialized. Mr Mishra, speaking to the media, said, “Amogha-III will meet expectations of both the Indian Army and friendly foreign nations.”

Underwater weapon Varunastra unveiled

Meanwhile, the underwater weapon, Varunastra, was also handed over to vice-admiral P. Ajit Kumar by defence minister Rajnath Singh.

Naval Science and Technological Laboratry (NSTL) and DRDO together developed Varunastra, which was later manufactured by BDL at its Vishakapatnam unit. The vessel is equipped with a heavy-weight torpedo and can target quiet anechoic submarines operating in both shallow and deep waters. The torpedos can operate at a speed of 20 to 40 knots and can also be used by other ships under the Navy artillery. Mr Mishra said that Varunastra will also be exported to friendly foreign countries.