The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Saturday (February 1, 2025) successfully conducted three successive flight-trials of the Very Short-Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) system from Chandipur off the coast of Odisha. These tests were carried out against high-speed targets flying at a very low altitude.
“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,” a statement from the DRDO said.
The flight data captured by various range instruments such as Telemetry, Electro-Optical Tracking System and Radar deployed by Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, confirmed the pin-point accuracy and established the unique capability of the VSHORAD missile system in neutralising drones along with other classes of aerial threats, the statement added.
The flight-tests were witnessed by senior officials of the DRDO, armed forces and development and production partners.
The VSHORAD is a man portable air defence system designed and developed indigenously by Research Center Imarat in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories. The missile system has the capability to meet the needs of all the three branches of the armed forces — the Army, Navy and the Air Force, the DRDO added.
The VSHORAD is a critical requirement for the Army as it offers close air defence protection for mobile formations, especially in the growing threat of drones and loitering munitions.
