The DRDO showcased its very short-range air-defence system missile at the Aero India 2023 show being held in Bangalore from 13 to 17 February. According to the DRDO, the development of the missiles is completed. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)
India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has completed development of its very short-range air-defence system (VSHORADS) missiles, the organisation told Janes at the Aero India 2023 show being held in Bangalore from 13 to 17 February.
A DRDO official told Janes that the development of VSHORADS is completed and the trials of the missile have started. VSHORADS is a manportable air-defence system (MANPADS) designed and developed by the DRDO. The production partner for VSHORADS is Adani Defence and Aerospace (ADA).
A spokesperson for ADA told Janes that VSHORADS will undergo “10 more trials in upcoming months”. In January, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved the procurement of VSHORADS missiles for the Indian Army.
According to the DRDO, VSHORADS is a fourth-generation weapon system equipped with a dual-thrust rocket propulsion system and an imaging infrared seeker-based system. The missile has a length of 2 m, a diameter of 0.09 m, and a weight of 21 kg.
VSHORADS can strike a target within a range of 6 km in about 15−20 seconds. The missile can carry a pre-fragmentation warhead of up to 2 kg and has a speed of Mach 1.5. It can be launched up to an altitude of 3.5 km and is equipped with a digitally controlled electromechanical actuator.
VSHORADS is a tripod-launched missile system used to destroy moving aerial targets such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), helicopters, and fighter aircraft. The missile has a high latex capability and intercepts 9 G manoeuvring fighter targets with single-shot kill probability.
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