Three successive flight trials of Very Short-Range Air Defence System ( VSHORADS) were successfully conducted by the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) recently, showcasing the ability of the missiles to neutralise threats like drones and high-speed targets flying at very low altitudes. The tests were conducted in Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.
VSHORADS is a man-portable air defence system designed and developed indigenously by Research Center Imarat in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and development cum production partners. The missile system is capable of meeting the needs of all three branches of India's armed forces—Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force.
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 the final deployment configuration wherein two field operators carried out weapon readiness, target acquisition and missile firing.
The flight data captured by various range instruments like Telemetry, Electro-Optical Tracking System and Radar deployed by Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, confirmed the high accuracy and established the unique capability of VSHORADS missile system in neutralising drones and other aerial threats.
The flight tests were conducted in the presence of senior officials of DRDO, armed forces and development and production partners.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the armed forces and the industries for the successful flight tests, calling it a great success.