NEW DELHI: In a huge boost for India’s air defence capabilities, Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted three successive flight-trials of a very short-range air defence system (VSHORADS) from the Chandipur test range off the Odisha coast. The tests conducted last Friday were carried out to revalidate the capability of VSHORADS missile system to neutralise high-speed threats flying at varying speed, range and altitude.VSHORADS is a man-portable air defence system designed and developed indigenously by Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad, in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and development-cum-production partners. The missile system will augment the capabilities of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. The need for VSHORADS, which generally has a range of up to 6 km and can engage targets at an altitude of 3.5 km, was felt especially after last year’s conflict with Pakistan when India was attacked with drones. VSHORADS is required to further modernise India’s air defence system, specifically to counter low-altitude, short-range threats like drones, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). As a man-portable (shoulder-fired) system, it provides critical, rapid-deployment protection for soldiers in rugged terrain and furthers India’s self-reliance agenda by reducing dependence on imports.During all the flight-tests, the missiles intercepted and destroyed high-speed aerial targets, mimicking enemy aircraft in various threat scenarios and meeting all extreme engagement points. The tests were carried out in final deployment configuration, with target acquisition & missile firing being done by field operators. These user validation flight-trials were carried out in the presence of representatives of joint forces along with senior officials from DRDO and development and production partners.Defence minister Rajnath Singh has congratulated DRDO, armed forces and the collaborating partners for the successful flight-tests of the system. With three successive flight-trials of VSHORADS being a success, the system can soon be inducted into armed forces, he said. DRDO chairman Samir V Kamat also congratulated the entire DRDO team involved in the design and development of the system.