The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) achieved a significant milestone on February 1 by successfully conducting three consecutive flight trials of the Very Short-Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) system off the coast of Chandipur, Odisha. The tests demonstrated the system’s precision and effectiveness against high-speed, low-altitude targets.
“During all the three flight-tests, the missiles intercepted and completely destroyed the targets, having reduced thermal signature mimicking low flying drones at different flying conditions. The flight-tests were carried out in final deployment configuration wherein two field operators carried out weapon readiness, target acquisition and missile firing,” the DRDO said in a statement.
The VSHORAD missile system is a critical asset developed to bolster the immediate air defence capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces. It can engage targets at ranges of 250 metres to 6,000 metres and altitudes of up to 12,000 feet. The Indian Army has already projected a requirement for 500 launchers and 3,000 missiles, while the Air Force and Navy plan to procure 300 launchers and 1,800 missiles.
The flight data captured by various range instruments like telemetry, electro-optical tracking system and radar deployed by the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, confirmed the pin-point accuracy and established the unique capability of VSHORADS missile system in neutralising drones along with other classes of aerial threats, the statement stated.
The trials were witnessed by senior DRDO officials, Armed Forces representatives, and members of the system’s development and production teams. The VSHORAD system is a man-portable air defence solution indigenously designed and developed by the Research Centre Imarat in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and industry partners.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and DRDO Chairman Samir V. Kamat lauded the DRDO, the Armed Forces, and the defence industry for their achievement, calling the successful trials a testament to India’s growing self-reliance in defence technology.
Team BharatShakti
