Indigenous MANPADS Man-Portable Air Defense Missile System gears up for user trials in India.

India is gearing up to commence user trials for its domestically developed man-portable air defense missile system, designed to eliminate hostile aircraft, drones, and helicopters at very short distances. This development is taking place in the backdrop of the Armed forces incorporating a limited number of comparable Russian systems to address operational gaps amid the ongoing military standoff with China in eastern Ladakh, according to a report by Kuldeep Negi in Swarajya.
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Indian Army soldier with a Russian-made Igla MANPADS which the indigenous system will replace (Picture source: Twitter/X of @neeraj_rajput)

The Very Short-Range Air Defense System (VSHORADS), conceived by DRDO to counter low-altitude aerial threats within a 6-km range, is anticipated to be ready for user trials by the armed forces by April-May. This 4th generation indigenous VSHORADS surpasses the existing MANPADS (man-portable air defense systems) currently used by the Indian military, mainly due to its advanced uncooled imaging infrared seeker.

He stated: "The upper range of the VSHORADS has been validated through a series of developmental tests. A few more tests are required to demonstrate its effectiveness at ranges less than 1 km, where precise maneuvering and control of the missile are critical." Once the VSHORADS successfully passes the user trials, which will require some time, it can move on to bulk production.

In January 2023, the Defence Acquisitions Council, led by Rajnath Singh, granted the "acceptance of necessity" for the procurement of infrared-homing VSHORADS missiles, developed by DRDO. This decision was the culmination of a tri-service procurement case for 5,175 VSHORADS and associated equipment initiated in June 2009, which ultimately led to the selection of the Russian shoulder-fired Igla-S anti-aircraft missile system over French and Swedish alternatives.

In the interim, to address immediate requirements, the Army and IAF have entered into agreements under emergency procurement provisions to acquire a limited quantity of Igla-S MANPADS over the past three years. The Army most recently inked a contract for 100 Igla-S missiles and 48 launchers in May of the previous year. The Army and IAF have been using the older Igla-1M systems since 1989. However, the Igla-S represents a more advanced iteration with an extended interception range of up to 6km.

Defense News January 2024