The Indian Army has taken delivery of the initial batch of 24 Igla-S Man Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS) from Russia, accompanied by 100 missiles, as part of a larger procurement agreement that includes domestic production in India, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The acquisition of the Igla-S system aims to bolster the army’s Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) capabilities, particularly in high mountainous terrain along the northern border as per a report by The Print.

While a small emergency purchase of 24 launchers and 216 missiles was made in 2021, this current procurement represents a more substantial order. The Igla-S system comprises a single launcher and missile, with a contract signed with Russia in November last year for 120 launchers and 400 missiles.

Although the initial batch is from Russia, the remainder of the systems will be manufactured in India through Transfer of Technology (ToT) from Russia, facilitated by an Indian company.

The Igla-S MANPADS are intended for new air defence formations, with one regiment having already received the systems and more expected to follow as deliveries progress.

The procurement process for VSHORADs began in 2010 under the previous government, with Russia’s Igla-S ultimately selected in 2018 over competitors from France and Sweden. MANPADS are crucial for neutralising low-altitude aerial threats in high mountainous regions, including aircraft, drones, and missiles.

The Indian Army’s current Igla-1M systems are due for replacement, as highlighted in a 2012 letter from then Army chief General V K Singh to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, which cited obsolescence and inefficacy in air defence systems.

The Igla-S acquisition is expected to address the army’s immediate air defence needs, with plans to eventually transition to more advanced VSHORAD systems featuring laser-beam riding and infrared technologies.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) recently conducted successful flight tests of indigenous VSHORADS missiles, signalling progress in domestic missile development efforts.