On February 01 2025, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted three consecutive flight-trials of the Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.
- These tests were conducted against high-speed targets flying at very low altitude.
About Flight Tests:
i.During these tests, the surface-to-air missiles intercepted and completely destroyed the targets having reduced thermal signature simulating low flying drones at different flying conditions.
ii.These flight-tests were carried out in final deployment configuration where in two field operators carried out weapon readiness, target acquisition and missile firing.
iii.Various range of instruments like: Telemetry, Electro-Optical Tracking System (EOTS), and Radar deployed by ITR, Chandipur, captured the flight data, which confirmed the exact accuracy and established the unique capability of VSHORADS missile in neutralizing drones along with other classes of aerial threats.
iv.The missile system has the capability to meet the requirements of all 3 branches of Indian Armed Forces i.e. Indian Army (IA), Indian Navy (IN) and Indian Air Force (IAF).
About VSHORADS:
i.It is a indigenous 4th generation technically-advanced Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD or MPADS).
ii.It is designed and developed by DRDO’s Hyderabad (Telangana)-based Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in partnership with other DRDO laboratories and Development cum Production Partners (DcPPs).
iii.The missile weighs 20.5 kilograms(kg) and measures 2 meters(m) in length. It has a diameter of 90 millimetre(mm) and a wingspan of 32 centimeter(cm). The warhead, weighing 2 kg, uses an adaptive proximity fuze.
- It has an operational range of 250m to 6 kilometers(km) and can travel at a maximum speed of Mach 1.5 (about 1,850 km/h). It is designed to be launched from the shoulder or mounted on a tripod, making it both portable and versatile for use in various combat scenarios.
iv.The missile system is an important requirement for IA as it provides close air defence protection for mobile formations, especially in the increasing threat of drones and loitering munitions.
About Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO):
It is the Research and Development (R&D) wing of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Government of India (GoI).
Chairman- Dr. Samir Vankatpati Kamat
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
Established-1958
