VSHORAD missile system

Subject: Science and Technology

Context:

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to procure the Very Short Range Air Defence System or VSHORAD (IR Homing) missile system, designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), among other weapon systems for the Army and Navy at a total cost of Rs4,276 crore.

Details:

India has been in talks with Russia to procure the Igla-S air defence missiles under the VSHORAD programme in a bid to replace the Russian Igla-M systems which have been in use with the Army.
IR homing:
- Infrared homing is a passive weapon guidance system which uses the infrared (IR) light emission from a target to track and follow it seamlessly.
- Missiles which use infrared seeking are often referred to as “heat-seekers” since infrared is radiated strongly by hot bodies.

About Igla-S Systems:

It is a man portable air defence system (MANPADS) developed by Russia.
It is a Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORAD) weapon.
“Igla-S” man-portable air defense system is designed to defeat all types of visible fixed- and rotary-winged aircraft on head-on and in pursuit courses as well as small aerial targets like cruise missiles around the clock under induced thermal and background noise.
It implements the principle of “shoot-and-forget”, high survivability and stealth of combat work.
It is designed in a way for countering low-flying aircraft, as it forms the last line of defense against flying objects in a multi-layered air defense system.
The Igla-S is capable of engaging all types of visually observable aircraft and helicopters as well as identifying air targets such as cruise missiles and UAVs, both head-on and receding, at any time of day, against background clutter and decoy flares (jamming).

What is the VSHORAD missile system?

VSHORADS is a man-portable Air Defence System (MANPAD).
Designed and developed indigenously by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and Indian Industry Partners.
Meant to kill low-altitude aerial threats at short ranges.
Manufacturer: Adani defence and aerospace.
The missile is propelled by a dual-thrust solid motor and incorporates many novel technologies including a miniaturised Reaction Control System (RCS) and integrated avionics, which were successfully proven during the tests conducted last year.
The DRDO has designed the missile and its launcher in a way to ensure easy portability.

Specifications:

Man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS):

How will it help India?

Being man-portable and lightweight compared to the other missile systems in the Army’s armoury, it can be deployed in the mountains close to the LAC at a short notice.

Acceptance of necessity (AoN):

The AoN is the first step in the long capital procurement process in defence.
Not all AoNs accorded necessarily culminate into a final order.

Defence Acquisition Council:

The Defence Acquisition Council is the highest decision-making body in the Defence Ministry for deciding on new policies and capital acquisitions for the three services (Army, Navy and Air Force) and the Indian Coast Guard.
The Minister of Defence is the Chairman of the Council.
It was formed, after the Group of Ministers’ recommendations on ‘Reforming the National Security System’, in 2001, post-Kargil War (1999).