India successfully test-fires SANT Missile.
                     INDIA SUCCESSFULLY 
TEST-FIRES SANT 
MISSILE
INTRODUCTION
• India successfully test-fired SANT (Stand-off Anti-
tank) missile off the coast of Odisha. 
• The missile is being developed by Imarat (DRDO's 
research center) in collaboration with the IAF. 
Source: jagranjosh.com
ABOUT SANT:
• SANT is an air-to-surface missile developed by 
Defence Research and Development Organisation 
(DRDO) for the Indian Air Force. 
• The SANT missile has both lock-on before launch and 
lock-on after launch capability and can destroy 
targets 15 km to 20 km away.
Source: currentaffairs.adda247.com
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
• The earlier version of the missile had a range of 
around 8 km but the upgraded variant can cover at 
least double the distance. 
• The missile is reported to be the upgraded version of 
India's Helina (Helicopter Launched Nag) missile.
Source: currentaffairs.adda247.com
LAUNCH PLATFORM
• It is equipped with a nose-mounted active radar 
seeker. Thus, the launch platform can be located at 
a safe distance from the target area.  
• As per the report, the missile will have both Lock-on 
After Launch and Lock-on Before Launch capabilities.
Source: jagranjosh.com
MI-35 HELICOPTER
• SANT missile will be launched from a Mi-35 
helicopter (Russian helicopter) gunship in the month 
of December. 
• Unlike other missiles of this class, the SANT missile 
can destroy the targets from a long-range. 
Source: indiandefencenews.com
AIRBORNE ANTI-ARMOUR GUIDED 
MISSILE
• As per the officials associated with the missile, SANT 
is one of the best airborne anti-armour guided 
missiles in the world. 
• On the other hand,  the BrahMos missile was test-
fired from an indigenously-developed stealth 
destroyer (INS Chennai) and hit the target in the 
Arabian Sea. 
Source: Wikipedia
COMBAT CHINESE AGGRESSION
• It is interesting to note that India has test-fired 10 
missiles within 35 days to combat Chinese 
aggression along the LAC and SANT is the 11 missile 
which has been test fired. 
Source: jagranjosh.com
DRDO'S NAG RANGE
• The Defence Research and Development 
Organization (DRDO) has developed many anti-tank 
missiles in its 'Nag' class, having a range between 
500m to 20 km (range depends on launch type). 
• Currently, Nag has 5 variants which are under 
development. 
Source: jagranjosh.com
LOCK-ON BEFORE LAUNCH FEATURE
• In this, the operators of the missile identify the 
enemy tanks first with the help of thermal imaging 
and then the image is captured and uploaded on the 
Nag's seeker system. 
• The missile operators can deviate the missile from 
its original path as and when required. 
Source: timesnow.com
LOCK-ON AFTER LAUNCH FEATURE
• This feature allows the missile operators to lock-on 
the target after launching the missile in a general 
direction. 
• In this, the missile scans the area before acquiring 
the target, lock-on itself and changes its path 
accordingly. 
• This helps the helicopters from which they are 
launched to effectively shoot and scoot. 
Source: jagranjosh.com