In a significant move to strengthen its tactical air defence shield, the Indian Army has issued a new tender for the procurement of Very Short Range Air Defence Systems (VSHORADS), aligning with the government’s flagship “Make in India” programme. The tender includes the acquisition of 48 launchers, 85 missiles, and associated support equipment, all designed to neutralize low-altitude aerial threats such as hostile aircraft, helicopters, and increasingly, drones.
This strategic procurement is a direct response to the evolving aerial threat landscape in the region, particularly from neighboring Pakistan. According to a 2023 Swarajya report, Pakistan has recently added advanced Turkish Akinci drones to its arsenal, significantly enhancing its long-range reconnaissance and strike capabilities.
While India already operates advanced systems such as the indigenous Akash surface-to-air missile and the Israeli SPYDER, the Army has identified the need for a more mobile, shoulder-fired solution that can offer frontline troops immediate protection from low-flying targets. The VSHORADS initiative aims to close that critical gap.
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The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has played a key role in this endeavour, successfully conducting field trials of its indigenously developed VSHORADS in October 2024 at Pokhran, Rajasthan. The system demonstrated strong hit-to-kill capabilities across a range of operational scenarios, marking a major milestone in India’s push for self-reliance in defence technology.
With this new tender, the Indian Army seeks to expedite the deployment of VSHORADS to bolster frontline readiness and safeguard key assets and installations in an increasingly volatile regional environment.
