Indian Army Orders More Adani-made ARKA (Igla-S) Air Defence Systems, Signaling Deep Confidence in Domestic Defence Production

In a significant move to enhance its air defence capabilities, the Indian Army has confirmed an additional order for the ARKA Man-Portable Air-Defence System (MANPADS).

These systems, which are the Indian version of the Russian Igla-S, will be manufactured in India by Adani Defence & Aerospace, reinforcing the nation's commitment to self-reliance under the ‘Make in India’ initiative

The ARKA is a shoulder-fired missile system designed to provide frontline soldiers with a crucial defence against aerial threats. It is engineered to effectively engage and neutralize low-flying targets such as attack helicopters, fighter aircraft, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

Utilising an advanced infrared homing guidance system, the missile has a proven operational range of up to 6 kilometres.

The official renaming of the system from Igla-S to ARKA highlights a strategic push towards branding and local ownership of defence technology.

This procurement is a critical component of the Indian Army's broader strategy to modernise its Very Short-Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) arsenal. The new ARKA units are set to replace the army's aging Soviet-era Igla-1M systems, which have been in service for several decades.

This latest order follows previous acquisitions made under emergency procurement powers to address urgent operational requirements along the borders.

The production of the ARKA system in India marks a major milestone for the country's private defence sector. Adani Defence & Aerospace is manufacturing the systems locally through a Transfer of Technology agreement with Russia's original equipment manufacturer.

This collaboration not only boosts India’s industrial base but also ensures the armed forces have access to cost-effective and state-of-the-art equipment produced domestically.

This partnership also underscores the growing synergy between the government and private industry in building a robust national defence ecosystem.

 

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[R. Singh]

ADANI's should seek tech to make AIM series of BVRAAMs and sidewinder self defence missiles in India !

 

[Radha Ramanan]

Yes, that's cool. Screwdriver assemble the Igla-S and call it by a new name. Please don't be taken away by the word indigenous. It takes years of research and development to design, develop, and test any missile. Some parts may be the airframe, fins, rocket motor, etc., but the main sensor, i.e., the IR seeker and its algorithms, will not be given; nobody will. India does not have the foundry fab to make the infrared seeker. The seeker on the VSHORADS is also imported from France or Israel, probably as it is an IIR sensor. I think the government allows 50% import to call it desi.

 

[Sandeep]

Yes, that's cool. Screwdriver assemble the Igla-S and call it by a new name. Please don't be taken away by the word indigenous. It takes years of research and development to design, develop, and test any missile. Some parts may be the airframe, fins, rocket motor, etc., but the main sensor, i.e., the IR seeker and its algorithms, will not be given; nobody will. India does not have the foundry fab to make the infrared seeker. The seeker on the VSHORADS is also imported from France or Israel, probably as it is an IIR sensor. I think the government allows 50% import to call it desi.

There’s a big difference in manufacturing something under a license which has a 75% indigenous content rate which will increase as we progressively manufacture more and replace the foreign content. We are ordering them under emergency powers as it’s better than directly importing them at a very expensive price.

Also our indigenous VSHORADS isn’t ready yet as it’s still being developed and refined based on the feedback from a number of tests they are undergoing which will still take time.

 

[Sandeep]

On a temporary basis under emergency powers it’s fine to manufacture the Igla missile under a license with an indigenous content rate of 75% and they will gradually increase that rate as they manufacture it. This will be much cheaper rather than import it directly at very expensive prices.

The DRDO are still developing the VSHORADS and it’s undergoing a number of tests as it’s still not ready entirely. There’s a lot of technology that needs testing and refining based on the feedback from operators and they need to make sure it’s a reliable missile that can work in any weather, night, day or environment. What we need to do is focus on completing it’s development process and then allow a private sector company to manufacture it under a license with an indigenous content rate of 100% in large quantities and at a faster rate.

 

[Pankaj]

Arka is a very good low-distance air defence system, and it is also cost-effective. With the help of Arka, we can shoot million-dollar flying objects with thousand-dollar weapons.

It is a cost-effective as well as battle-tested air defence system.

It would be better to deploy more units of such air defence systems at LAC and LOC to counter drone attacks.

It serves as a hidden weapon and makes it impossible to track a soldier standing with Arka.