The Indian Air Force (IAF) is currently working to manufacture the British MBDA Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) in India to serve as its primary close-combat weapon.
This missile is set to become the standard choice for an expanding roster of fighter jets, including the indigenous Tejas Mk1A, Sukhoi Su-30MKI, and the MiG-29UPG.
While the ASRAAM offers unmatched within-visual-range combat capabilities, its premium price tag may encourage the IAF to look for a more affordable supplementary missile.
Instead of designing a completely new weapon, the military could adapt the Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) created by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for this specific role.
The integration of the ASRAAM into India's arsenal began over a decade ago when it was selected in 2013 for the New Generation Close Combat Missile (NGCCM) programme.
It successfully outperformed international competitors like the Israeli Python, German Diehl IRIS-T, and the American Raytheon AIM-9X Sidewinder.
Today, its deployment has grown significantly as the IAF works to replace ageing Soviet-era R-73 missiles across multiple platforms, including upgraded Jaguar strike fighters, Tejas Mk1A, Su-30MKI, and most recently, the MiG-29UPG fleet.
The ASRAAM offers a massive tactical advantage over legacy systems. It boasts speeds exceeding Mach 3 and an engagement range of up to 50 kilometres, dwarfing the R-73's limited 10 to 15-kilometre reach.
Furthermore, it features an advanced imaging infrared seeker and high off-boresight targeting capabilities, allowing pilots to lock onto enemy aircraft at extreme angles without pointing their jet directly at the target.
To support India's self-reliance goals, a partnership between MBDA and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) has led to the establishment of a Final Assembly, Integration, and Test (FAIT) facility in Hyderabad, ensuring local production and maintenance.
Despite its exceptional performance and local assembly, acquiring sophisticated Western infrared-guided missiles remains an expensive endeavour.
The IAF operates a vast and expanding fighter fleet that includes the Tejas Mk1A, upcoming Tejas Mk2, Su-30MKI, Dassault Rafale, MiG-29UPG, and the future Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
Equipping every single aircraft with high-cost ASRAAMs for all daily sorties is simply not financially practical. Therefore, adopting a cheaper complementary missile for less demanding scenarios makes strategic sense.
For routine training flights or lower-threat combat environments, having an affordable alternative ensures that expensive weapons are conserved, following a tiered procurement approach the military already uses for other munitions.
This economic challenge highlights the strategic value of DRDO's VSHORADS.
Designed primarily by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in Hyderabad, VSHORADS is a fourth-generation, man-portable air defence system (MANPADS) initially meant to destroy low-flying threats like drones and attack helicopters.
It is equipped with advanced indigenous technologies, including a miniaturised reaction control system (RCS), integrated avionics, and a highly accurate dual-waveband imaging infrared seeker.
The missile has already proven its reliability through multiple successful flight trials at the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur and the Pokhran Test Range, successfully intercepting high-speed targets.
In terms of physical specifications, the VSHORADS is highly compact. It weighs just 20.5 kilograms, measures 2 metres in length, and has a 90 mm diameter.
Powered by a dual-thrust solid propellant rocket motor, it reaches speeds of up to Mach 1.5 and can strike targets up to 6 kilometres away.
Because it was engineered for mass production as a shoulder-fired infantry weapon, it is inherently inexpensive to manufacture.
By slightly modifying its airframe, aerodynamic surfaces, and launch interface, the core sensor and guidance technology of the VSHORADS could seamlessly be repurposed into a lightweight air-launched missile for fighter jets.
Creating an air-to-air missile from the proven VSHORADS platform would save immense time and capital compared to launching a brand new development programme.
DRDO and its manufacturing partners can utilise existing production lines and guidance algorithms that have already cleared rigorous testing.
Ultimately, this reflects a broader, highly practical modernisation strategy within the Indian armed forces. Instead of relying solely on expensive, top-tier weapons for every situation, the IAF is building a balanced arsenal.
Premium systems like the ASRAAM will handle the most severe aerial threats, while budget-friendly, indigenous options derived from VSHORADS can effectively manage high-volume, lower-tier operations.
