UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — DRDO successfully flight-tests Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile with top attack capability against a moving target
Q1. The Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) that demonstrated top-attack capability was designed and developed under the lead of which one of the following DRDO laboratories?
- A. Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad
- B. Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad
- C. Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh
- D. High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune
Q2. With reference to the state-of-the-art indigenous sub-systems of the MPATGM, consider the following:
1. Imaging Infrared (IIR) Homing Seeker
2. All-electric Control Actuation System
3. Semi-Active Laser (SAL) terminal guidance requiring continuous designation
4. Tandem Warhead
Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as a sub-system of the MPATGM?
- Imaging Infrared (IIR) Homing Seeker
- All-electric Control Actuation System
- Semi-Active Laser (SAL) terminal guidance requiring continuous designation
- Tandem Warhead
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 3 only
- D. 1 and 4
Q3. Consider the following pairings of anti-tank guided missiles with their characteristics:
1. Nag — third-generation fire-and-forget ATGM
2. FGM-148 Javelin — American man-portable fire-and-forget ATGM
3. Spike — Israeli anti-tank guided missile
4. MPATGM — a second-generation, wire-guided ATGM requiring the operator to steer it to impact
Which of the above pairings is/are NOT correctly matched?
- Nag — third-generation fire-and-forget ATGM
- FGM-148 Javelin — American man-portable fire-and-forget ATGM
- Spike — Israeli anti-tank guided missile
- MPATGM — a second-generation, wire-guided ATGM requiring the operator to steer it to impact
- A. 1 only
- B. 2 and 3
- C. 3 and 4
- D. 4 only
Q4. Anti-tank guided missiles are conventionally classified by their terminal engagement geometry against an armoured target — the MPATGM demonstrating the profile that strikes the tank's thinner upper armour. Into how many broad attack profiles are anti-tank guided missiles thus divided?
- A. Two (direct/frontal attack and top attack)
- B. Three
- C. Four
- D. Five
Q5. With reference to the DRDO laboratories that developed the MPATGM's sub-systems, consider the following laboratory–location pairs:
1. Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) — Hyderabad
2. Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) — Chandigarh
3. High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) — Pune
4. Research Centre Imarat (RCI) — Pune
Which of the above are correctly identified?
- Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) — Hyderabad
- Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) — Chandigarh
- High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) — Pune
- Research Centre Imarat (RCI) — Pune
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 2, 3 and 4
- C. 1 and 4
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q6. With reference to how work on the MPATGM was distributed across DRDO establishments, consider the following statements:
1. While DRDL, Hyderabad served as the lead integrating laboratory, the warhead was developed by TBRL, Chandigarh.
2. The seeker/avionics were developed by Research Centre Imarat, whereas the propulsion system was developed by HEMRL, Pune.
3. Both DRDL and Research Centre Imarat are located in Pune.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- While DRDL, Hyderabad served as the lead integrating laboratory, the warhead was developed by TBRL, Chandigarh.
- The seeker/avionics were developed by Research Centre Imarat, whereas the propulsion system was developed by HEMRL, Pune.
- Both DRDL and Research Centre Imarat are located in Pune.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q7. In which year was the MPATGM's top-attack capability against a moving target demonstrated for the first time?
- A. 2019
- B. 2021
- C. 2024
- D. 2026
Q8. In the context of the MPATGM, the term 'fire-and-forget' most precisely means which one of the following?
- A. After launch the missile homes onto the target using its own onboard seeker, allowing the operator to take cover or relocate
- B. The operator must keep a laser continuously pointed at the target until the moment of impact
- C. The missile is steered to the target by commands sent through a trailing wire link
- D. The operator must keep the target centred in the crosshairs throughout the missile's flight
Q9. With reference to the January 2026 top-attack flight test of the MPATGM, consider the following statements:
1. The test was conducted at KK Ranges, Ahilya Nagar, Maharashtra.
2. It demonstrated top-attack capability against a moving target.
3. It was carried out by DRDO's Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad.
4. The test was conducted at the Pokhran Field Firing Range, Rajasthan.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The test was conducted at KK Ranges, Ahilya Nagar, Maharashtra.
- It demonstrated top-attack capability against a moving target.
- It was carried out by DRDO's Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad.
- The test was conducted at the Pokhran Field Firing Range, Rajasthan.
- A. 1 and 4
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1, 2 and 3
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q10. With reference to the DRDO test ranges associated with the MPATGM, consider the following statements:
1. KK Ranges are located at Ahilya Nagar, Maharashtra.
2. Ahilya Nagar was formerly known as Ahmednagar.
3. Pokhran Field Firing Range is located in Rajasthan.
4. The warhead penetration flight trials of the MPATGM were conducted at KK Ranges.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- KK Ranges are located at Ahilya Nagar, Maharashtra.
- Ahilya Nagar was formerly known as Ahmednagar.
- Pokhran Field Firing Range is located in Rajasthan.
- The warhead penetration flight trials of the MPATGM were conducted at KK Ranges.
- A. 1 only
- B. 3 only
- C. 4 only
- D. 2 and 3
Q11. The MPATGM is fitted with a tandem warhead specifically to defeat Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) on modern Main Battle Tanks. Such a tandem-charge warhead employs exactly how many sequential shaped-charge stages?
- A. One
- B. Two
- C. Three
- D. Four
Q12. With reference to the MPATGM Weapon System and its place in India's defence indigenisation drive, consider the following statements:
1. The complete MPATGM Weapon System comprises the missile, the launcher, the target acquisition system and the fire control unit.
2. Under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) are its Development-cum-Production Partners (DcPP).
3. Unlike its imported counterparts, the MPATGM is a wire-guided system that must be steered by the operator throughout its flight.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The complete MPATGM Weapon System comprises the missile, the launcher, the target acquisition system and the fire control unit.
- Under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) are its Development-cum-Production Partners (DcPP).
- Unlike its imported counterparts, the MPATGM is a wire-guided system that must be steered by the operator throughout its flight.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3