India Ramps Up Air Defense After Pahalgam Attack
Following the Pahalgam terror strike, India issues a new tender for advanced VSHORADS missile systems to boost air defense readiness.
India Ramps Up Air Defense After Pahalgam Attack: A Strategic Urgency
In the shadow of the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam region, India is wasting no time reinforcing its military posture. On May 3, the Indian Army issued a new request for man-portable air defense missile systems, signaling an assertive move to shore up short-range air defense capabilities as regional tensions intensify.
This latest development isn’t just a routine procurement—it’s a pointed response to evolving threats from the skies, driven by real-time urgency and a broader recalibration of India’s defense doctrine.
India’s Missile Tender: A Timely Response to a Growing Threat
The Ministry of Defence has released a tender inviting bids for 48 missile launchers, 85 infrared-homing missiles, night-vision sights, and a mobile test platform—all under the banner of the VSHORADS-NG (Very Short-Range Air Defence System–New Generation) program.
What makes this request especially urgent is its scope: the system must work in all weather, be immune to electronic jamming, and deploy rapidly—even in terrains as harsh as the Himalayas or the deserts of Rajasthan.
A senior Army official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that India faces “critical gaps in terminal and point air defense,” particularly as drones and low-flying aircraft become more central to modern warfare. This shortfall, the official said, could leave strategic zones exposed in the event of a swift aerial incursion.
Why This Matters Now: The Pahalgam Catalyst
The procurement push comes in the immediate aftermath of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, which has reignited tensions with Pakistan. Though no official attribution has been made, the incident underscores the fluid and unpredictable nature of regional threats.
This context is crucial: air defense isn’t just about intercepting enemy jets anymore. Drones, stealth helicopters, and loitering munitions are redefining aerial warfare—and India’s military is adjusting accordingly.
“The battlefield has changed,” says Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Satish Dua, former Chief of Integrated Defence Staff. “Aerial threats are more agile, more covert. We need systems that are mobile, fast-reacting, and built for today’s realities.”
DRDO’s Delays and the Import Imperative
While India aims to strengthen its indigenous defense ecosystem through the “Make in India” initiative, reality often moves faster than research. DRDO’s version of the VSHORADS has been in development for years, with the most recent test trials held in February. Full deployment, however, remains distant.
In the meantime, the military has leaned on Russia’s Igla-S systems—a modernized, shoulder-fired weapon with a 6 km range. These are assembled in India under a partnership with Adani Defence and have filled critical gaps since the 2020 standoff with China in Ladakh.
Though the Igla-S is an upgrade over the aging Igla-1M units first introduced in 1989, experts agree that a broader, more reliable solution is overdue.
A Long-Pending Project Finds New Life
The Army’s current tender also resurrects a larger, tri-service proposal that dates back to 2009. That plan aimed to procure over 5,000 VSHORADS units through international competition and eventually transition production to Bharat Dynamics Ltd.
While Russia’s Igla-S won that bid over French and Swedish alternatives, the larger project stalled amid bureaucratic slowdowns and shifting policy priorities. Now, with the Pahalgam incident sharpening focus, that dormant ambition has roared back to life.
In January 2023, the Defence Acquisitions Council gave the green light for a ₹1,920 crore investment into DRDO’s homegrown VSHORADS program—an acknowledgment that India needs long-term solutions, not just short-term patches.
A Modern Military Must Stay One Step Ahead
This flurry of action isn’t just a procurement story. It reflects a broader truth about India’s security calculus: deterrence must evolve at the same speed as the threats it hopes to prevent. From drone swarms to precision strikes, modern warfare is about agility, flexibility, and layered defense.
If successful, the VSHORADS-NG acquisition will serve as a critical first line of protection—not only for soldiers in forward areas but also for infrastructure, convoys, and high-value command posts.
Conclusion: Defense at the Speed of Threat
India’s swift move to procure advanced air defense systems following the Pahalgam attack reflects a military learning to respond faster, smarter, and more strategically. While indigenous development remains a long-term goal, the present demands immediate action. With the skies becoming more contested and unpredictable, this tender marks a crucial step in preparing India’s forces for the next generation of threats—whenever, and wherever, they come from.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on publicly available government documents, defense tenders, and expert interviews. It does not reveal classified information and is intended solely for informational and journalistic purposes.
source :Jagran English