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Following the successful development and testing of the tripod-mounted Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS), the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is now directing its efforts towards creating a true shoulder-fired version.
According to defence sources, the upcoming goal is to engineer a lighter, soldier-carried model that can be launched directly from the shoulder, all while maintaining the weapon's striking distance and destructive power.
This move signifies a major step forward in India's mission to deploy a completely homegrown air defence solution tailored for varied combat environments, from rugged mountain warfare to agile infantry movements.
The existing tripod-based VSHORADS stands as a landmark technical triumph for Indian scientists. The standalone missile weighs in at around 20.5 kilograms, but when combined with the tripod and targeting mechanisms, the entire setup reaches approximately 40 kilograms.
While this heavier configuration offers excellent stability for static defensive lines, it is primarily suited for fixed outposts.
The tripod ensures steady aim and continuous readiness, making it highly effective for troops guarding high-altitude peaks who need sustained protection against drones, attack helicopters, and low-level enemy aircraft.
Recent flight trials conducted at the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha, successfully validated the system's hit-to-kill capabilities against high-speed targets simulating modern aerial threats.
With the developmental testing of the tripod variant largely finished and the armed forces currently conducting user validations, the system is nearly ready for official induction. As this stage nears completion, DRDO is pivoting its focus to shrinking the system's size and cutting down its overall mass.
Officials indicate that DRDO's Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in Hyderabad is actively designing this scaled-down VSHORADS missile.
The target is to slash the total weight to between 15 and 18 kilograms. Achieving this will put the Indian weapon in direct competition with renowned shoulder-launched MANPADS (Man-Portable Air Defence Systems) globally, such as the American FIM-92 Stinger and the Russian Verba or Igla-S.
Trimming down the weight presents a formidable technical hurdle. The revised design will likely feature a tweaked dual-thrust solid propulsion motor and a smaller uncooled Imaging Infrared (IIR) seeker.
Compacting the complex guidance electronics without losing the missile's advanced tracking abilities is one of the toughest challenges for the engineering team.
Even with a lighter footprint, the upcoming shoulder-fired system is projected to maintain its impressive operational range of up to 6 kilometres and an engagement altitude of 3.5 kilometres.
Preserving these metrics while shedding weight is essential to keep the new weapon tactically effective on the modern battlefield.
The strategic push for a shoulder-fired VSHORADS is driven by the shifting realities of modern combat.
While tripod setups are perfect for entrenched positions, they lack the rapid mobility required by fast-advancing infantry units navigating unpredictable landscapes.
When patrolling tight mountain passes or valleys, soldiers frequently face unexpected airborne dangers, especially from agile kamikaze drones or helicopters.
These situations leave no time to unpack and mount a heavy tripod. A lightweight, shoulder-launched missile gives troops the ability to strike back instantly.
Building a lighter weapon without compromising its reach, sensor accuracy, or mid-air agility requires masterful engineering. Shrinking military hardware often leads to sacrifices in rocket endurance or targeting precision.
DRDO's challenge is to maintain the missile's ability to perform high-speed manoeuvres (up to Mach 1.5), endure extreme temperatures, and ignore enemy flares or jamming attempts, all within a much smaller package.
The Research Centre Imarat’s deep knowledge of miniaturised Reaction Control Systems (RCS) and avionics will be crucial in striking this balance.
The compact guidance computers must continue to track fast, low-flying targets seamlessly while filtering out electronic interference.
Unlike older foreign systems that require heavy coolant gas cylinders to chill their sensors before firing, the indigenous uncooled IIR technology offers a massive logistical edge for soldiers operating in challenging terrains like Ladakh.
With the rapid rise of drone warfare and low-level aerial strikes, having widespread, easy-to-carry air defence at the tactical squad level is no longer optional.
Once ready, this highly portable VSHORADS variant will serve as the crucial inner layer of India’s broader air defence network, working alongside larger systems like the Akash and medium-range surface-to-air missiles to secure the nation's skies.
