India Set To Begin User Trials of Indigenous Man-Portable Air Defence Missile System

India is preparing to initiate 'user trials' for its indigenous man-portable air defence missile system, designed to destroy hostile aircraft, drones and helicopters at very short ranges.

This development comes as the Armed forces continue to induct a limited number of comparable Russian systems to fill operational voids amid the ongoing military standoff with China in eastern Ladakh.

The Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS), which was designed by DRDO to counter low-altitude aerial threats within a 6-km range, is expected to be ready for user-trials by the armed forces by April-May, ToI reported citing a senior defence official.

He stated that the indigenously-developed 4th generation VSHORADS outperforms the current MANPADS (man-portable air defence systems) used by the Indian military, due to its advanced uncooled imaging infrared seeker.

“The upper range of the VSHORADS has been proven through a series of developmental tests. A few more tests to prove it at ranges less than 1-km, where manoeuvring and controlling the missile becomes critical, are required,” he added.

The Defence Acquisitions Council, led by Rajnath Singh, gave the "acceptance of necessity" for the procurement of infrared homing VSHORADS missiles, which are being designed and developed by DRDO, in January last year.

The cost of this procurement is estimated to be Rs 1,920 crore.

The official stated that once the VSHORADS successfully passes the user-trials, which will require some time, bulk production can follow.

Simultaneously, certain Indian corporations are actively engaged in the development of "laser-beam riding VSHORADS" as part of a "Make-II" category project.

In this project, the industry funds the development of prototypes.

The military is hoping for the best with VSHORADS, an affordable solution that can be quickly implemented for the close air defence protection of vital resources in both challenging high-altitude terrains and maritime environments.

“They have proved their sheer operational versatility and utility during the Russia-Ukraine war,” an officer said.

A tri-Service case for procurement of 5,175 VSHORADS and associated equipment was initiated way back in June 2009, which eventually led to the Russian shoulder-fired Igla-S anti-aircraft missile system being selected over the French and Swedish systems in the fray.

However, the major project, which was to include an initial off-the-shelf purchase followed by technology transfer to Bharat Dynamics for subsequent production, did not take off.

As a result, the Army is still severely lacking in advanced man-portable air defence missiles, despite the escalating tensions along the northern borders with China.

In response to this, the Army and IAF have signed a few agreements under emergency procurement provisions to acquire a limited quantity of Igla-S MANPADS over the past three years.

The Army signed the most recent contract for 100 Igla-S missiles and 48 launchers in May last year. The Army and IAF have been utilising the older Igla-1M systems since 1989. However, the Igla-S is a more advanced version that boasts a longer interception range of up to 6-km.