The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully carried out three successive flight-trials of the Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha. The trials, conducted to revalidate the system’s performance, demonstrated the missile’s capability to neutralise high-speed aerial threats across varying speeds, ranges and altitudes.
During all three flight-tests, the VSHORADS missiles successfully intercepted and destroyed high-speed aerial targets that simulated enemy aircraft under diverse threat scenarios. The engagements met all extreme operational parameters, validating the system’s effectiveness at multiple engagement points. Notably, the trials were conducted in the final deployment configuration, with field operators carrying out target acquisition and missile firing, underscoring the system’s operational readiness.
Data collected through advanced range instrumentation, including Telemetry systems, Electro-Optical Tracking Systems and radars deployed by ITR Chandipur, confirmed the missile’s precision and reliability against a broad spectrum of aerial threats. The user validation trials were witnessed by representatives of the Joint Forces along with senior officials from DRDO and its development-cum-production partners.
VSHORADS is an indigenously designed and developed Man-Portable Air Defence System created by Research Centre Imarat in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and industry partners. The system is tailored to meet the operational requirements of all three services of the Armed Forces—the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force—strengthening India’s short-range air defence capability.
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the Armed Forces and the industry partners for the successful completion of the flight-tests. He described the achievement of three consecutive successful trials as a significant milestone and expressed confidence that the system would soon be inducted into the Armed Forces.
Dr Samir V Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO, also extended his congratulations to the DRDO team, the Armed Forces and the industry partners involved in the design, development and testing of the system, highlighting their collective contribution to strengthening India’s indigenous defence capabilities.
