With the successful completion of three consecutive flight tests of its very short-range air-defense system (VSHORADS) on Saturday at Chandipur, Odisha, India has reached a major milestone in its defense capabilities.
Senior military authorities and important development partners watched the trials, which were organized by the Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO). The system’s efficacy against contemporary aerial threats was shown by the tests, which specifically targeted high-velocity projectiles traveling at extremely low altitudes.
The missiles effectively intercepted and destroyed targets created especially to mimic low-flying drones with negligible thermal signatures throughout each test. Two field operators oversaw the whole process, from weapon preparation to target acquisition and missile launch, throughout the tests, which were carried out in realistic deployment conditions.
The remarkable accuracy of the system was validated by a number of advanced monitoring systems, such as radar installations at the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, electro-optical tracking systems, and telemetry devices. The information gathered confirmed VSHORADS’s exceptional capacity to thwart both drone threats and traditional aviation targets.
As previously reported by India Sentinels, Research Center Imarat, other DRDO facilities, and development and production partners collaborated to create the indigenously manufactured man-portable air-defense system known as VSHORADS. The Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force are the three components of the armed forces that the adaptable system is designed to support.
With two production agencies currently involved under the development-cum-production partner arrangement, the system’s development phase is now complete. VSHORADS has a six-kilometer operational range and is powered by a dual-thrust solid motor.
Because of its lightweight and portable design, the system is especially well-suited for quick deployment in hilly areas, particularly along the eastern Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh line of actual control (LAC) with China. This is especially important as the Army is trying to phase out
As stated by India Sentinels, earlier successful experiments of this fourth-generation, technically complex system were carried out at the Pokhran Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan in October 2024.
Rajnath Singh, the defence minister, and Dr. Samir V. Kamat, the chairman of the DRDO, praised the accomplishment and emphasised its significance for India’s defence capabilities. India’s domestic defense technology program has advanced significantly as a result of the successful experiments.
