On Saturday, the Ministry of Defence announced the successful completion of three flight trials of the Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missile off the coast of Chandipur, Odisha. The tests were conducted against high-speed targets flying at extremely low altitudes, showcasing the missile system’s precision and effectiveness.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh applauded the efforts of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the armed forces for the successful trials. He highlighted the importance of the milestone in strengthening India’s defence capabilities.
“During all 3 trials, the missiles accurately intercepted and destroyed targets with reduced thermal signatures, replicating low-flying drones in various flight scenarios,” the ministry stated.
The trials were conducted using the missile’s final deployment configuration. Two field operators were involved in the complete process, including weapon readiness, target acquisition, and missile firing.
The VSHORADS is an indigenously designed and developed man-portable air defence missile system. It was created by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and Indian industry partners.
The ministry further added that data collected through telemetry, electro-optical tracking systems, and radar confirmed the missile’s advanced capabilities to neutralize drones and other aerial threats.
This cutting-edge missile system has been tailored to meet the operational requirements of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, further enhancing their defensive strength.
The successful trials underline India’s commitment to developing indigenous defence technologies and ensuring self-reliance in addressing modern security challenges.