SAMHO explained

SAMHO
Origin:	India
Type:	Anti-tank guided missile
Is Missile:	yes
Used By:	Indian Army
Designer:	Armament Research and Development Establishment (DRDO)
Diameter:	120mm
Filling:	Tandem HEAT
Vehicle Range:	1500-^[1]
Guidance:	Semi-active laser homing
Launch Platform:	Arjun MBT (tested) T-90 (planned)

The SAMHO (or Semi-Active Mission Homing) is an Indian gun-launched anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) developed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) for the Arjun tanks of the Indian Army.^[2] Originally intended to be fired from the 120 mm rifled gun of Arjun, the DRDO plans to make it compatible with the T-90 tanks of the Indian Army, which have a 125 mm smoothbore gun.^[3] The SAMHO has a high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) tandem-charge warhead designed to defeat explosive reactive armour (ERA) protection of modern armoured vehicles and tanks.^[2] The SAMHO is a multi-purpose anti-armour guided missile effective against tanks and low flying attack helicopters.^[2]

Overview

The development of SAMHO gun-launched anti-tank guided missile was announced in 2014.^[4] The SAMHO missile was developed under the Cannon Launched Missile Development Programme (CLMDP) by the ARDE lab of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in association with High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) and Instruments Research and Development Establishment (IRDE).^{[2] [5]} The missile is intended to enhance the firepower of the indigenous Arjun tanks in service with the Indian Army.^{[5] [6]}

Testing

First trial

The first trial occurred successfully on 22 September 2020, from an Arjun tank with an inert warhead. The missile engaged a target kept at a distance of 3 km.^[6]

Second trial

Another successful missile firing occurred 1 October 2020.^[7]

Third trial

On 29 June 2022, DRDO successfully tested the missile engaging a target from minimum and maximum range. This time DRDO also solved the dimensional constraints of a tank launched ATGM.^[8]

Fourth trial

On 4 August 2022, another successful test occurred, engaging a target from minimum to maximum range to check performance consistency.^[9]

Notes and References

1. News: Laser-guided anti-tank missile successfully tested from Arjun tank . 29 June 2022 . ENS . The Indian Express . 29 June 2022.
2. Web site: Cannon Launched Missile Development Programme (CLMDP) . Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Ministry of Defence, Government of India . 2021-07-06.
3. News: . DRDO plans to use Indigenous SAMHO missile on Russian T-90 tanks . Guarding India . en-US . 2021-07-06.
4. Web site: . 2014-09-21 . India drops Israeli missile for Arjun Tank. 2021-07-06 . Hindustan Times . en.
5. News: . 2020-10-01 . DRDO successfully test fires laser-guided anti-tank guided missile from Arjun Tank . The Indian Express . en . 2021-07-06.
6. News: 2020-09-23 . DRDO test fires laser guided anti-tank missile . en-IN . The Hindu . 2021-07-06 . 0971-751X.
7. Web site: Philip . Snehesh Alex . 2020-10-05 . Not just Arjun, DRDO looking to get indigenous anti-tank missile on Russian T-90 tanks too . 2022-06-29 . ThePrint . en-US.
8. News: 2022-06-28 . Indigenous ATGM test-fired from Arjun tank at Karakoram range . en-IN . The Hindu . 2022-06-29 . 0971-751X.
9. News: ANI . 2022-08-04 . DRDO successfully test-fires laser-guided ATGMs . 2022-08-04 . ThePrint . Printline Media . en-US.