Stand Off Anti Tank Missile (SANT)
The Stand off anti-tank missile was tested successfully by Indian Air Force and defence research and development Organisation in Pokhran range in December 2021.
About the Missile
- It is an air to surface missile.
- The missile is equipped with state of art milli metre wave seeker. It provides high precision strike capability from a safe distance. The weapon can attack targets up to ten kilo metre range.
- The missile was designed by the DRDO.
- It is an armour guided missile.
- It has both lock – on before launch and lock – on after launch capabilities.
About the test
The missile was successfully tested for its release mechanism, tracking algorithm, avionics with integrated software. Also, the tracking events monitored that all the events were successful during the test.
Lock – On After launch and before launch in the missile
Lock – On before launch is the capability of the missile system to lock – on to the target after it is launched. Lock – On After launch is the capability of the missile to lock on to the target after being launched from the carrier vehicle.
What is a Stand Off missile?
It is a missile that is launched from a distance that allows the attacking person to evade from the target area. They are generally used against sea and land targets. Some of the stand off missiles are BrahMos, Babur, Blue Steel, DRDO SAAW, Barq, Rudram, Nirbhay, etc.
How is SANT related to HELINA?
SANT missile is the fourth-generation missile upgraded variant of HELINA. The upgraded missile has an electro – optical thermal imager. Helina is a helicopter based NAG missile. It is the third generation missile developed by DRDO. The specialty of HELINA is that it can attack targets both in direct hit mode and top attack mode. DHRUVASTRA is a variant of HELINA.
