India recently got a new supply of Igla-S air defense missiles, which are of Russian origin, greatly enhancing its military capabilities. Tensions with Pakistan have increased after the Pahalgam terror attack, thus this purchase comes at a crucial moment.
In order to strengthen defense capabilities against aerial threats, such as hostile aircraft, helicopters, and drones, the missiles are being quickly deployed to advanced locations along India’s western border. India made a calculated decision with this procurement to increase its military preparedness for any threats to regional stability.
New Russian-origin Igla-S missiles have been supplied to the Indian Army as part of a deal carried out under the central government’s emergency procurement powers. After being supplied a few weeks ago, these Very Short Range Air Defence Systems (VSHORADS) are being quickly dispersed to advanced units along the border regions. Strengthening air defense capabilities in the western sector against Pakistan is the deployment’s primary goal. According to defense authorities, these missiles will be essential in defending Indian soldiers from fighter planes, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles that are operating close to the border.
It is impossible to overestimate the strategic importance of this deployment given the elevated tensions that have followed the Pahalgam terror assault. The Indian military’s choice to place these cutting-edge air defense systems in forward locations shows that it is committed to preserving its territorial integrity and is taking a proactive approach to border security. The quick deployment also shows that the Indian defense forces are highly operationally prepared, especially to counter any aircraft threats from the other side of the border.
The advanced shoulder-fired, extremely short-range Igla-S air defense system was created especially to destroy low-flying airplanes and other aerial targets. With the use of infrared homing technology, this man-portable air defense system (MANPADS) can precisely track and engage airborne targets. The missiles are especially effective against low-altitude threats that may elude bigger air defense systems because they are fitted with infrared sensors that can identify and latch onto the heat signatures of hostile aircraft.
The Igla-S system’s mobility, which permits quick deployment in a variety of terrains and operational settings, is one of its main benefits. These systems are very easy for infantry soldiers to carry and operate, allowing them to provide air defense capabilities even in difficult and isolated areas. Because of its mobility, the system is a perfect addition to India’s multi-layered air defense architecture, bridging important coverage gaps, particularly in forward regions where bigger systems would not be feasible or deployable.
The Indian government gave the armed services emergency purchase powers, which made it easier to acquire Igla-S missiles. Without the usual drawn-out bureaucratic procedures, this simplified procurement method enables the quick acquisition of vital defense equipment. The estimated ₹260 crore (about $31 million) procurement for these missiles represents a large but calculated investment in India’s defense capability.
The choice to use emergency procurement powers demonstrates how urgently India is attending to its defense requirements, especially in view of the region’s changing security threats. In recent years, the Indian military has used this strategy more frequently, with an emphasis on obtaining the equipment and spare parts required to keep all branches of the military at high operational readiness. The purchase of the Igla-S missiles is a component of a larger pattern of quicker defense acquisitions meant to improve India’s military readiness.
India is aggressively enhancing its air defense capabilities by further acquisitions and domestic development in addition to the present shipment. Under expedited processes, the Indian Army has released bids for the purchase of around 90 more VSHORADS missiles and 48 more launchers. The Indian Air Force has also chosen to use these infrared sensor-based systems to improve its own air defense capabilities under a similar arrangement. These continuous purchases show a thorough strategy to fortify India’s multi-tiered air defense system.
The emphasis on strengthening air defense systems coincides with the rise in aerial threats in contemporary wars, especially from drones and unmanned aerial vehicles. Strong air and missile defense systems are vital, as demonstrated by the recent Israel-Iran conflicts and the Russia-Ukraine war. India’s commitment to modifying its defense posture in response to these changing battlefield conditions is demonstrated by its investment in systems such as the Igla-S.
As tensions between India and Pakistan rise in the wake of the Pahalgam terror assault, these air defense systems are being purchased and deployed. Bilateral ties have dramatically worsened as a result of this incident, which is purportedly connected to terrorists affiliated with the outlawed group Lashkar-e-Taiba. Following the attack, the Jammu and Kashmir Police offered a sizable reward of ₹6,000,000 (roughly US$80,000) for information that would result in the identification, detention, or removal of the perpetrators, including two Pakistani nationals known as Hashim Musa (also known as Suleiman) and Ali Bhai (also known as Talha Bhai).
India has made great progress in creating its own defense technology to combat a variety of threats in addition to acquiring Russian equipment. The first shipment of Nagastra 1 loitering munition, a type of man-portable suicide drone that was created in India, was just delivered to the Indian Army. These drones are intended to carry out precise attacks on enemy infiltrators, launch pads, and training grounds without endangering the lives of soldiers. These systems, which have more than 75% native content, lessen reliance on outside resources while offering affordable ways to target low-level threats along the borders of China and Pakistan.
Furthermore, First Person View (FPV) Kamikaze drones equipped with anti-tank missiles have been successfully tested by the Indian military. These drones were built in-house at the Rising Star Drone Battle School under the Fleur-De-Lis Brigade and developed in partnership with DRDO’s Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory. Over 100 drones had been manufactured by the organization by March 2025, showcasing India’s increasing capacity to develop, assemble, and use its own unmanned aerial systems independently of other vendors.
The ‘Vajra-Shot,’ a handheld anti-drone weapon developed by Chennai-based Big Bang Boom Solutions, is another noteworthy indigenous innovation. This lightweight technology, which weighs just 3.5 kg, incorporates a radar with a four-kilometer detection range and has the ability to interfere with a drone’s communication frequency, which can lead to the drone losing control and crashing. The technology, which is already in use by the Indian Army and Air Force, has been ordered for about USD 25 million, demonstrating India’s dedication to enhancing its own counter-drone capabilities.
The purchase of Igla-S missiles and the quick advancement of domestic defense technology point to a thorough strategy for dealing with India’s security issues. The dynamics of regional security are affected strategically in a number of ways by these changes. First, they strengthen India’s defenses, especially against the escalating danger posed by drones and low-flying aircraft, which are becoming more and more common in contemporary wars. Second, they show that India is determined to keep a high defensive stance in the face of regional tensions, which might operate as a warning against hostile behavior.
A balanced approach to defense modernization is shown in the emphasis on both domestic development and overseas purchases. The emphasis on domestic technology guarantees long-term self-reliance in crucial defense fields, even while systems like the Igla-S offer instant capability increase. With this dual strategy, India may also customize its defense systems to meet particular operational needs and geographic circumstances, which might result in more effective solutions than off-the-shelf foreign systems.
In the future, India’s defense procurement policy is probably going to keep focusing on quick purchase procedures for vital technology while also funding local R&D. More expenditures in air defense systems, counter-drone technology, and precision attack capabilities are probably going to be motivated by the continued tensions with Pakistan and the changing nature of security threats. In an increasingly complicated regional security environment, India is well-positioned to handle both short-term security issues and long-term strategic goals thanks to its all-encompassing approach to defense modernization.
With tensions with Pakistan escalating in the wake of the Pahalgam terror assault, India’s air defense capabilities have been significantly improved with the delivery of Russian Igla-S missiles. India’s resolve to bolstering its military posture along the western border is demonstrated by the acquisition, which was carried out under emergency powers and has a value of almost Rs 260 crore. Together with further orders for more launchers and missiles, the deployment of these systems to forward locations shows a complete strategy for dealing with aerial threats in a dangerous regional environment.
At the same time, India’s investment in domestic defense technology, including as anti-drone weaponry, Kamikaze FPV systems, and suicide drones, demonstrates an increasing level of independence in vital defense areas. India is positioned to successfully adapt to changing security problems because to its twin strategy of long-term domestic technology development and quick capabilities augmentation through overseas acquisitions. These military modernization initiatives will probably continue to impact India’s defense posture and wider geopolitical dynamics in South Asia as long as regional tensions endure.