The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) is planning to buy the Very Short Range Air Defence System, also known as the VSHORAD (IR Homing) missile system.
Missile System VSHORAD
- VSHORADS is a man-portable Air Defence System designed to eliminate low-altitude aerial threats at short ranges (MANPAD).
- It is designed and developed entirely in India by the DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and Indian industry partners.
- The missile is propelled by a dual thrust solid motor and incorporates many novel technologies, such as a miniaturised Reaction Control System (RCS) and integrated avionics, which were successfully demonstrated during last year’s tests.
- The missile and its launcher were designed by the DRDO to be portable.
Characteristics that are unique
- Because it is man portable and lightweight in comparison to other missile systems in the Army’s arsenal, it can be deployed in the mountains near the LAC on short notice.
- Others, such as the Akash Short Range Surface to Air Missile System, are more powerful and come with a theatre air defense umbrella.
- They are thought to be the best option for mountain warfare because they can be deployed quickly in difficult terrain.
Significance of the missile
- The development comes amid an ongoing military standoff with China along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, as well as reports of Chinese air violations along the LAC last year.
- Since 2018, India has been in talks with Russia to purchase Igla-S air defence missiles for $1.5 billion through the VSHORAD program, in order to replace Russian Igla-M systems.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/vshorad-missile-systearmy-mountain-warfare-prowess-8375754/