India fast-tracks VSHORADS-NG missile deal amid border security concerns

Time of India

04-05-2025

Amid rising tensions on the western front, particularly after the
Pahalgam terror attack
, the Indian Army has moved to procure a fresh batch of man-portable air defence systems. These missiles are designed to intercept enemy aircraft, drones, helicopters, and fighter jets up to a range of 6 km.
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The
Ministry of Defence
, in coordination with the Army, on Friday released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for 48 launchers, 48 night-vision sights, 85 missiles, and a mobile missile testing station under the
Very Short Range Air Defence System
- New Generation (
VSHORADS-NG
) category.
Bidders have been asked to submit their proposals by 20 May. The contract will be processed under the 'Buy (Indian)' route.
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'Urgent requirement for dynamic air threats'
As reported by TOI, an Army officer explained the rationale behind the move, stating, 'The fire-and-forget VSHORADS-NG, based on infra-red homing technology, are needed by Army to meet the evolving dynamic air threat. There are major shortages in such man-portable systems for terminal and point defence against all types of aerial threats.'
These systems are expected to operate in extreme terrain—from snow-covered heights of 4,500 metres to deserts, plains, coastal, and maritime zones. The missile system must be deployable in all-weather scenarios, including snow-bound regions, and be para-droppable when needed.
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The RFP specifies: 'It should have the capability to engage fighter, transport aircraft and helicopters,' and adds, 'It should have a maximum range of 6000 m (6 km) hitting targets up to 3500 m (3.5 km) above ground levels.'
DRDO's indigenous system still under trials
While India has been developing its own version of VSHORADS through the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the system is not yet ready for production. The latest round of trials was conducted in February this year.
Given the delays, the armed forces have had to rely on alternate sources. Earlier, under emergency provisions triggered by the military standoff with China in eastern Ladakh, both the Army and Indian Air Force inducted a limited number of similar systems.
Igla-S: Stopgap measure during defence gaps
Among the emergency acquisitions were Russian-origin
Igla-S man-portable air defence systems
. These were assembled in India by Adani Defence. The Igla-S offers significant improvements over the older Igla-1M, which has been in service since 1989. The newer version comes with a longer interception range and better precision, still capped at 6 km.
This isn't the first time India has looked into acquiring such systems. A tri-Service case to procure 5,175 VSHORADS units began back in June 2009. The Igla-S eventually won over competing French and Swedish systems. The larger plan was to first purchase off-the-shelf units and then locally manufacture them with technology transfer to
Bharat Dynamics
. However, the project did not progress.
Government push for local production
The new RFP reiterates the Centre's focus on indigenisation. It stipulates that vendors must meet 'minimum indigenous content (IC) required in case of indigenous design greater than 50 per cent, otherwise more than 60 per cent.'
Additionally, the RFP mentions: 'There should be a facility of portable missile testing station which functions in all terrains and climatic conditions.'
Back in January 2023, the Defence Acquisition Council led by Rajnath Singh gave the green light for procurement of DRDO's VSHORADS systems, at an estimated cost of ₹1,920 crore. This latest tender is seen as a continuation of that approval, with a more immediate focus on plugging critical gaps.
This fresh procurement round arrives at a critical moment. Tensions along the western border with Pakistan have remained high, especially following the Pahalgam incident. Security analysts see this move as a response to both long-standing capability shortfalls and current operational risks.
Though not unexpected, the urgency underlines a broader reality—the need for portable, responsive air defence is no longer theoretical. It's immediate.