In order to strengthen its air defense capabilities, the Indian government has launched a major procurement campaign to acquire the next-generation Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS-NG). In order to demonstrate the government’s commitment to domestic defense manufacturing and the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has released a Request for Proposal (RFP) calling on Indian vendors to provide 48 launchers, 48 night-vision sights, 85 missiles, and one missile test station under the “Buy (Indian)” category.
The VSHORADS-NG is a shoulder-fired, man-portable missile system that can defend both terminally and at the point of attack against a variety of aerial threats, such as transport and fighter planes, helicopters, and unmanned aerial systems (UAS). By using cutting-edge infrared (IR) homing technology, these weapons enable “fire-and-forget” operation, which lets the missile track and engage targets on its own without additional guidance after launch. The system is designed to function well in all weather circumstances, including harsh ones like high-altitude regions covered by snow, deserts, plains, coastal regions, and maritime domains.
The missile must have a minimum engagement range of 500 meters and be able to contact objects up to 6,000 meters away.
When airborne threats approach at 400 meters per second or faster, it should be able to intercept them.
The system must be swiftly deployable, switching from transport to firing mode within three minutes, and must be man-portable, permitting single-person transportation across extended distances. It should also be transportable via trucks, ships, airplanes, and be suited for para-dropped missions.
The system can be modified for both land-based and ship-based platforms and is designed for use by the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
This purchase is a part of a larger initiative to replace outdated Igla systems of Russian origin, which serve as the foundation for India’s extremely short-range air defense but are deemed inadequate in view of contemporary threats, particularly those posed by drones and low-flying aircraft. The VSHORADS-NG, created by the DRDO in partnership with Indian industrial partners, has successfully completed both developmental and field testing, proving its capacity to intercept low-altitude, high-speed targets, including drones with minimal thermal signatures.
The RFP’s requirement of at least 50% indigenous content supports the government’s drive for defense production to become self-sufficient. With future plans suggesting the possible purchase of hundreds of launchers and thousands of missiles to fully update India’s air defense network, the current acquisition is anticipated to serve as a prelude to larger-scale inductions.
With the goal of protecting frontline soldiers and vital equipment from quickly changing aerial threats, the VSHORADS-NG purchase represents a key advance in India’s air defense readiness.
