The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has achieved a significant milestone with the successful completion of three successive flight trials of its Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) off the coast of Odisha. Conducted at the Chandipur testing site, these trials aimed at evaluating the system’s effectiveness in intercepting high-speed targets flying at low altitudes.
Throughout the tests, the VSHORADS missiles demonstrated remarkable precision, successfully neutralizing targets that mimicked low-flying drones with reduced thermal signatures. The trials were carried out under real-world deployment conditions, with two field operators managing the weapon’s readiness, target acquisition, and missile firing processes.
The data captured during these trials from various instruments, such as Telemetry, Electro-Optical Tracking Systems, and Radar, confirmed the system’s pinpoint accuracy. These results showcase VSHORADS’ advanced capabilities in countering not only drones but also other types of aerial threats. Senior officials from DRDO, the Armed Forces, and development and production partners were present to witness the tests, which further validated the system’s operational readiness.
VSHORADS is a Man-Portable Air Defence System that has been developed indigenously by Research Center Imarat, with collaboration from other DRDO laboratories and industry partners. The missile system is designed to serve the needs of all three branches of the Indian Armed Forces – the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
In response to the successful trials, Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh extended his congratulations to DRDO, the Armed Forces, and the involved industries, praising the achievement as a major success. Dr. Samir V Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence Research and Development and Chairman of DRDO, also commended the efforts of the entire DRDO team, users, and industry partners for their contributions to this achievement.
