VSHORAD MISSILE
1. Context
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to procure the Very Short Range Air Defence System or VSHORAD (IR Homing) missile system, designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), among other weapon systems for the Army and Navy at a total cost of Rs4,276 crore. The development comes amid the ongoing military standoff with China at the LAC in eastern Ladakh and reports of air violations by China along the LAC last year.
2. VSHORAD Missile system
- Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) is a Man-portable air defence system (MANPADS) designed and developed indigenously by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and Indian Industry Partners.
- The VSHORADS missile's design integrates a number of cutting-edge technology, including an integrated avionics system and a miniaturised reaction control system (RCS), both of which have been successfully tested.
- The missile is driven by a dual thrust solid motor and is designed to destroy low-altitude aerial threats at close ranges.
- The missile's design, including the launcher, has undergone extensive optimization to ensure portability.
Image Source:indianexpress
Significance: The Armed Forces will experience an additional technological boost thanks to this new missile that is packed with cutting-edge technology.
3. About Reaction Control System (RCS)
Thruster-based attitude control and steering are handled by a reaction control system (RCS). Small quantities of thrust can be delivered by the RCS system in any desired direction or set of directions.
4. What are MANPADS
- MANPADS are short-range, lightweight and portable surface-to-air missiles that can be fired by individuals or small groups to destroy aircraft or helicopters.
- They help shield troops from aerial attacks and are most effective in targeting low-flying aircraft.
- MANPATs or Man-Portable Anti-Tank Systems work in a similar manner but are used to destroy or incapacitate military tanks.
- MANPADS have a maximum range of 8 kilometers and can engage targets at altitudes of 4.5 km.
- The first MANPADS were introduced by the United States and Soviet Union in the 1960s.
5. How this Missile system will help India?
- While the exact specifications of the missile are not immediately known, officers in the Army explained that being man portable and lightweight compared to the other missile systems in the Army’s armoury, it can be deployed in the mountains close to the LAC at a short notice.
- When it comes to man portable air defence missiles, there was a critical gap in the Army’s inventory, especially for the eastern and northern borders, though not so much for the western borders with Pakistan, for which India has the Soviet-vintage OSA-AK missile systems.
- Others like the Akash Short Range Surface to Air Missile System are heavier with a theatre air defence umbrella of up to 25 km and can be deployed further away from the LAC for static formations, that they may not be the best bet for mountains.
- When inducted, they will be a critical air defence missile for the forces, even for an all-equipped infantry unit, and will be the best option for mountain warfare.
- It added that the procurement of VSHORAD, as a robust and quickly deployable
system, will strengthen India’s air defence capabilities.
For Prelims
| For Prelims: Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS), Man-portable air defence system (MANPADS), DRDO, Reaction Control System (RCS), and Akash Short Range Surface to Air Missile System. |
Source: The Indian Express
