DRDO successfully conducts successive flight trials of Very Short-Range Air Defence System-OxBig News Network

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted three successive flight trials of the Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) from its range at Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha.

These tests were carried out against high-speed targets flying at very low altitude. The missile system has been developed to meet the needs of all the three branches of the Armed Forces for immediate air defence.

VSHORADS has the capability to engage targets at ranges of 250 metres to 6,000 metres and at altitudes up to 12,000 feet. The Army reportedly has projected a requirement of 500 launchers and 3,000 missiles, while the Air Force and Navy plan to procure 300 launchers and 1,800 missiles.

During all the three flight tests, 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 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 the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, confirmed the pin-point accuracy and established the unique capability of VSHORADS missile system in neutralising drones along with other classes of aerial threats.

The flight tests were witnessed by senior officials from DRDO and the Armed Forces along with representatives of the development and production partners.

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.

Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh and Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development and Chairman DRDO, Dr Samir V Kamat have congratulated the DRDO, Armed Forces and the industry for the successful flight tests.