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President Tours Indigenous LCH Prachand at Jaisalmer

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President sortie in LCH Prachand Jaisalmer

Sortie In Prachand Has Filled Me With A Renewed Sense Of Pride In The Nation’s Defence Capabilities: President Droupadi Murmu.

New Delhi: The India’s President sortie in LCH Prachand Jaisalmer, Rajasthan today (February 27, 2026). Earlier, she undertook sorties in Sukhoi 30 MKI and Rafale in 2023 and 2025, respectively.

The mission was undertaken as a two-aircraft LCH formation. President Droupadi Murmu flew in the lead aircraft with Group Capt. Nayan Shantilal Bahua, while Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh and Group Capt. A Mahendra flew as Number 2 in the second aircraft. During the approximately 25-minute mission, they flew over Gadisar Lake and Jaisalmer Fort and attacked a Tank Target. 

Later in the visitor’s book, the President expressed her feelings by writing a brief note in which she said, “The sortie in India’s indigenously developed Light Combat Helicopter ‘Prachand’ is an enriching experience for me. This sortie has filled me with a renewed sense of pride in the nation’s defence capabilities. I congratulate the Indian Air Force and the entire team of Air Force Station Jaisalmer for successfully organising this sortie”.

In the evening, the President will witness the Indian Air Force’s Exercise Vayu Shakti at Jaisalmer.

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COVER STORYDefence Industry & TechnologyDRDO

DRDO Successfully Tests Man-Portable ATGM with Top-Attack Capability

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DRDO test MPATGM 2026

New Delhi: Third Generation Fire & Forget Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) with top attack capability was flight-tested successfully against a moving target in KK Ranges, Ahilya Nagar, Maharashtra by DRDO’s Defence Research & Development Laboratory, Hyderabad on January 11, 2026. The indigenously developed MPATGM consists of state-of-the-art indigenous technologies like Imaging Infrared (IIR) Homing Seeker, all electric Control Actuation System, Fire Control System, Tandem Warhead, propulsion system and high performance sighting system, which are developed by DRDO’s sister laboratories namely Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad, Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, Chandigarh, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune and Instruments Research & Development Establishment, Dehradun.

The Thermal Target System was developed by Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur to simulate the target tank. The IIR seeker is well accomplished with day and night combat operation capability. The warhead is capable of defeating modern main Battle Tanks. Bharat Dynamics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited are the Development-Cum-Production Partners (DcPP) for the weapon System. The missile can be launched from Tripod or Military Vehicle Launcher.

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has complimented DRDO, DcPP Partners and the Industry for the successful test. He termed it as an important step towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Congratulating the team, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat said that the trial target was successfully conducted, thereby leading the weapon system for induction into the Indian Army.

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