India has been developing its own indigenous air defence systems to protect its territory and assets from hostile aerial attacks. One of the key components of this multi-layered air defence system is the Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missile, which is designed to neutralise low altitude aerial threats at short ranges.
## What is VSHORADS?
VSHORADS is a man-portable air defence system (MANPADS) that can be carried and operated by a single soldier or a small team. It consists of a ground-based launcher, a missile and a fire control unit. The missile has a dual thrust solid motor that provides high speed and manoeuvrability. The missile also has an advanced seeker that can lock on to the target using infrared or laser guidance.
The VSHORADS missile can engage targets such as helicopters, drones, cruise missiles and low-flying aircraft at ranges up to 6 km and altitudes up to 3 km. It can also intercept targets approaching or receding from any direction. The VSHORADS missile has a high kill probability and can operate in all weather conditions and day/night scenarios.
## How was VSHORADS developed?
The VSHORADS missile was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India, with the collaboration of other DRDO laboratories and Indian industry partners. The project was initiated in 2014 as part of the Make in India initiative to reduce dependence on foreign imports and enhance self-reliance in defence technology.
The VSHORADS missile underwent several trials and tests to validate its performance and reliability. The first test flight was conducted in 2018 at Pokhran range in Rajasthan. Since then, several more tests have been conducted at different locations and scenarios. The most recent tests were conducted on March 14, 2023 at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha. In these tests, two consecutive successful flight tests were carried out against high speed unmanned aerial targets, mimicking approaching and receding aircraft .
## What are the advantages of VSHORADS?
The VSHORADS missile offers several advantages over existing MANPADS systems such as:
- It is indigenously designed and developed, which reduces costs and ensures availability.
- It has a longer range and higher altitude coverage than other MANPADS systems.
- It has a better seeker that can track multiple targets simultaneously and discriminate between decoys and real targets.
- It has a higher speed and agility that enables it to intercept fast-moving targets.
- It has a modular design that allows easy integration with different platforms such as vehicles, ships or aircraft.
- It has a low maintenance requirement and high operational readiness.
## What are the future plans for VSHORADS?
The VSHORADS missile is expected to be inducted into the Indian Army soon as part of its air defence arsenal. The DRDO is also working on improving the capabilities of the system by incorporating new features such as:
- A multi-mode seeker that can switch between infrared and laser guidance depending on the target type and environment.
- A network-centric capability that can share data with other air defence systems for situational awareness and coordinated action.
- A dual-use capability that can also be used for surface-to-surface missions against ground targets.
The VSHORADS missile is thus a game changer for India's air defence system as it provides an effective solution for countering low altitude aerial threats that pose a serious challenge to conventional air defence systems. With its indigenous development, India has demonstrated its technological prowess and self-reliance in this critical domain.
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