Army set to receive next batch of shoulder-fired Igla-S air defence systems

• Indian Army is all set to receive another set of Russian Igla-S

Highlights:

• The Igla-S systems were contracted last year under the fourth tranche of Emergency Procurements (EP) and are being assembled by Adani Defence Systems and Technologies Limited (ADSTL) in India under technology transfer from Rosoboronexport.
• Last year, the Army contracted 48 Igla-S launchers, 100 missiles, 48 night sights, and one missile testing station under a ₹260 crore contract
• The missile will be imported and some parts like sights, launcher, and battery will be assembled/manufactured here.
• The Army is also set to receive the first of two Israeli Hermes-900 Medium Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) assembled by ADSTL next month.

IGLA-S:

• It is a very short range air defence systems (VSHORAD)
• This will fill a critical void in Indian air defence requirements
• A VSHORAD is the soldier’s last line of defence against enemy combat aircraft, helicopters and UAVs in the multilayered air defence network.

Prelims Takeaway:

• Igla-S
• Hermes-900