VSHORADS (Very Short Range Air Defence System) · VSHORADS (MRSAM-NG/VSHORADS programme)
India's indigenous very short range air defence missile; DRDO design; man-portable/vehicle-mounted; 0.5–6 km range; designed to defeat low-flying drones, helicopters, and cruise missiles.
Last verified:
At a Glance
- OEM
- DRDO — design; BDL — production
- Range
- ~0.5–6 km
- Altitude
- ~3 km max engagement altitude
- Guidance
- Imaging Infrared (IIR) seeker + command guidance
- Warhead
- High-explosive fragmentation
- Launch
- Man-portable (shoulder-fired) or vehicle-mounted
- Target
- Low-flying drones, helicopters, cruise missiles, UAVs
- Speed
- Mach 1.5+
- Platform
- Man-portable; can be mounted on light vehicles
- Status
- Development / procurement
- indicators
- []
- key specs
- []
What It Is
VSHORADS (Very Short Range Air Defence System) is an indigenous Indian air defence missile system designed by DRDO to provide point defence for army formations against low-flying threats including drones, helicopters, cruise missiles, and UAVs. The system fills a critical gap in Indian Army air defence, replacing older Soviet-origin systems like the Igla-M. The VSHORADS missile uses an imaging infrared (IIR) seeker for terminal guidance, with a range of approximately 0.5–6 km and engagement altitude up to ~3 km. The system can be operated in man-portable mode (shoulder-fired) or mounted on light vehicles for greater mobility. The programme is in the development/procurement phase, with multiple successful test firings reported. The VSHORADS is designed to be complemented by the larger Akash and MRSAM systems for medium and long-range air defence, respectively.
Deployments & Procurement
The VSHORADS is in the development/procurement phase. Multiple successful test firings have been reported. No specific procurement quantity or value has been publicly confirmed.
| Agency | Context | Year | Quantity / Note | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Army | VSHORADS test firings | 2022 | Multiple successful test firings reported (2022–2023) | [1] |
| Indian Army | VSHORADS procurement evaluation | — | Procurement phase; quantity not publicly disclosed | [1] |
Open Questions
- Exact procurement quantity not publicly disclosed
- Whether VSHORADS will fully replace the Igla-M in Indian Army service
- Timeline for operational induction
Import Dependencies
Designed to be fully indigenous. Limited import dependencies on specialised components.
| Component | Severity | Note | Pillar | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIR seeker components | Low | Some infrared detector components may use imported sources initially | /research/pillars/defence/ | |
| Solid rocket motor propellant | Low | Indigenous development; some advanced propellant materials may import initially | /research/pillars/defence/ |
Intelligence Assessment
Methodology: /research/methodology
Majority indigenous; some sensor components may import initially
Sources: [1]
Development/procurement phase; scale not yet confirmed
Sources: [1]
Competitive cost; potential export to cost-sensitive air defence markets
Knowledge Graph
Peer Systems
Related Pillars
Timeline
FAQ
What threats does VSHORADS address?
VSHORADS is designed to defeat low-flying threats including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs/drones), helicopters, cruise missiles, and low-flying aircraft within a range of 0.5–6 km. It fills the lowest tier of the Indian Army's layered air defence architecture, complementing the Akash (short-range) and MRSAM (medium-range) systems.
Sources: [1]
Is VSHORADS different from MRSAM?
Yes. VSHORADS (Very Short Range Air Defence System) is a man-portable/vehicle-mounted system with 0.5–6 km range for point defence. MRSAM (Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile) is a larger system with 50–70 km range for area air defence. Both are indigenous DRDO programmes but serve different tiers of the air defence architecture.
What is the Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS)?
VSHORADS is an Indian-developed, man-portable very short-range air defence system designed to protect ground formations from low-altitude aerial threats such as helicopters, drones and loitering munitions. DRDO has carried out multiple successful flight trials of the system.
What stage has VSHORADS reached in its development?
DRDO has conducted successful flight trials of VSHORADS, including three consecutive tests validating its performance. The system is advancing toward user trials and production, with the platform positioned as an indigenous alternative to imported shoulder-fired air defence systems.
Open Questions
- Exact procurement quantity not publicly disclosed
- Whether VSHORADS will fully replace the Igla-M in Indian Army service
- Timeline for operational induction
- Whether the system will be vehicle-mounted or man-portable in primary configuration
Sources
- src-1IndicativeVSHORADS — Wikipedia
Comprehensive VSHORADS specifications and programme history
- src-2OfficialDRDO VSHORADS — air defence missile
DRDO VSHORADS programme page (domain root reference)
- src-3CredibleIndia tests indigenous VSHORADS missile
VSHORADS test firing report
- src-4OfficialDRDO conducts successful flight-trials of Very Short-Range Air Defence System
PIB press release on VSHORADS trials
- src-5CredibleDRDO carries out three consecutive tests of Very Short-Range Air Defence system
VSHORADS consecutive-trials report
- src-atlas-listingIndicativeVSHORADS (Very Short Range Air Defence System) — Defence Atlas listing
Own register: indicative only, never official per standing evidence rules. All listing-derived figures in this dossier are attributed to this source.