India has begun fielding new consignments of Russian-made Igla-S Very Short Range Air Defence Systems (VSHORADS), news agency ANI reported, quoting defence sources. This is a shoulder-fired missile system that’s now being deployed to the country’s forward military formations. These deliveries are part of a Rs 260 crore contract pushed through under emergency procurement provisions, designed to close critical gaps in low-altitude air defence.
The deployment is more than symbolic. It follows one of the deadliest terror attacks on civilians in recent years, the Pahalgam massacre, and comes at a time when Indian border units are on high alert. With tensions mounting on the Line of Control and a chilling war of words erupting on the eastern front, the arrival of the Igla-S offers a crucial layer of protection against hostile rotary and fixed-wing platforms, including the increasing drone traffic witnessed in recent skirmishes.
About Igla-S Missile
is a more recent, improved version of the 9K38 Igla, offering enhanced capabilities like an improved seeker for better target acquisition, increased range (up to 6 km) and a more powerful warhead. In essence, the Igla-S represents a significant advancement in the Igla family, offering greater range, more potent warheads, and improved target discrimination. While the original 9K38 Igla remains in service, the Igla-S is considered a more capable system.
What Makes the Igla-S Different?
The Igla-S is not new to military watchers. What makes this system relevant today is its capability to neutralise low-flying threats like helicopters, close air support aircraft, and increasingly, combat drones. With an effective engagement range of up to 6 km and a ceiling of roughly 3.5 km, the Igla-S gives Indian forward units greater flexibility in repelling sudden air intrusions without relying solely on bulky, vehicle-mounted platforms.
Crucially, the missile features a dual-channel infrared homing guidance system and improved resistance to flares and other countermeasures, an upgrade over the older Igla-M systems still in limited use. This means more reliability in real-time battlefield conditions, particularly in terrain where radar-based systems struggle with line-of-sight limitations.
The Tactical Imperative
India’s vast borders, mountainous in the north and west, densely forested in the east, have long posed a challenge for conventional air defence systems. Quick-reaction teams often lack access to larger SAM platforms. The shoulder-fired Igla-S, in contrast, can be moved with infantry, slotted into ambush positions, or paired with MANPAD-integrated air defence networks.
According to ANI, the new Igla-S units have already been inducted into units stationed along the northern and western theatres, where airspace violations and drone sightings have sharply increased. In the event of escalated conflict or a limited theatre war, these missiles are expected to serve as a mobile, last-line shield against sudden aerial attacks.
Procurement Under Pressure?
This particular order was cleared under emergency procurement powers granted to the armed forces. The Ministry of Defence has increasingly relied on such fast-track authorisations to plug capability gaps amid rising tensions with both Pakistan and China. While India has long planned to build its own MANPADS under the Make in India framework, with efforts from DRDO and firms like Adani Defence in the mix, these indigenous systems are still some distance away from operational readiness.
The Igla-S delivery also comes amid geopolitical recalibrations. While India continues to diversify its arms suppliers, Russian-origin platforms remain an integral part of its military architecture. From S-400s to T-90s and now the Igla-S, legacy interoperability plays a role in the choice, especially when timelines are tight and the requirement is urgent.
What does it signal?
More than just a piece of hardware, the Igla-S arrival signals India’s intent to fortify its tactical posture along multiple sensitive frontlines. With the three-front scenario, Pakistan in the west, China in the north, and an increasingly assertive Bangladesh in the east, taking shape in military planning circles, portable air defence systems have become a key focus.
This is not a procurement for a peacetime show. It is a hedge against escalation, a message to both state and non-state actors that India’s trigger-pullers on the frontlines won’t be looking up to HQ when drones or choppers cross red lines. They’ll be looking through a thermal sight, waiting for tone.
