VSHORAD (India)

The Very Short Range Air Defence System, or VSHORADS, is a fourth generation, man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS) developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI),a research lab under Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), located in Hyderabad. Multiple DRDO laboratories along with Indian Industry Partners are participating in the project. It is designed for anti-aircraft warfare and neutralising low altitude aerial threats at short ranges.

Adani Defence and Aerospace is the Development-cum-Production Partner (DcPP) for manufacturing of VSHORAD system.

Development
The Indian Army has been using Igla-M since 1980s. The system today is not well suited for evolving modern threats. In the year 2018, Russia’s Rosoboronexport came out victorious and was believed to supply $1.3 billion Igla-S missile system to the Indian Army.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is now reviewing and delaying the 9K338 Igla-S (SA-24 Grinch) systems under the Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) procurement in order to limit arm imports and support Make In India. Nevertheless, the Indian Army has deployed a limited quantity of Igla-S systems that were purchased under emergency procurement from Russia.

DRDO grabbed this opportunity and started working on its own very short-range air defence or VSHORADS program. VSHORADS is designed and developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and Indian industry partners. On 11 January 2023, MoD accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to VSHORAD (IR Homing) missile variant.

As of May 2024, DRDO has developed a tripod based weapon system while the development miniaturised version as a shoulder launched variant is underway. The DRDO VSHORAD project is likely to receive an initial order of around 500 launchers and 3000 missiles from the Indian Army.

According to sources, the DRDO VSHORAD is being developed in parallel to another Indian VSHORAD project as a joint venture between a Hyderabad-based public sector unit (likely, Bharat Dynamics Limited) and a Pune-based private sector unit. The latter missile shall be a laser beam riding VSHORAD system to be used against low flying drones, helicopters and fighter jets. This project, worth inr 48000000000, is likely to receive an order of 200 launchers and 1200 missiles. While Indian Army will procure 700 missiles the Air Force will procure the rest of it.

Design
The missile is propelled by dual-thrust rocket motor and is made to take out low flying targets. Missile and launcher is designed for easy portability.

VSHORAD missile incorporates integrated avionics and miniaturized Reaction Control System (RCS) to increase mid-air maneuverability. The missile uses a state-of-art uncooled infrared imaging seeker.

Testing
On 27 September 2022, DRDO conducted two successful test flights of VSHORAD missile from a ground-based portable launcher from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha. A Ministry of Defence statement read "VSHORAD missile incorporates many novel technologies including miniaturised Reaction Control System (RCS) and integrated avionics, which have been successfully proven during the tests"

On 14 March 2023, DRDO again conducted two consecutive successful flight tests of VSHORAD missile at the ITR, Chandipur. The flight tests were carried out against a high speed unmanned aerial targets, mimicking approaching and receding aircraft. The targets were successfully intercepted, meeting all mission objectives.

On 28 and 29 February 2024, the third and fourth tests were successfully conducted from a ground-based portable launcher. The mission objective, which was to destroy high-speed unmanned targets under different scenarios, was achieved by the tests. The test was witnessed by officials from the Indian Army.

In June 2024, ANI News reported that DRDO will carry out high-altitude trails of the missile system at a location like Ladakh or Sikkim. The issues about short-range interception has been sorted out. The high-altitude trails will be followed by user trials by Indian Armed Forces.

Operators



 * Indian Army: 500 launchers and 3000 missiles (planned)
 * Indian Air Force and Indian Navy: 300 launchers and 1800 missiles (planned)