India has recently fortified its air defense capabilities by acquiring a new batch of Igla-S Man Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS) from Russia, intended for deployment along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). This initial delivery of Igla-S MANPADS includes 24 launchers and 100 missiles, forming part of a broader agreement that will see subsequent systems manufactured domestically under a technology transfer agreement with Russia. This move aims to enhance the Indian Army’s Very Short Range Air Defense (VSHORAD) capabilities, particularly along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the high-altitude northern borders where new air defense formations are being established.
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The Igla-S system, with an interception range of up to 6 kilometers, represents a significant upgrade from the currently used Igla-1M systems. A limited number of these systems were initially introduced in 2021 as part of an emergency procurement, but this new order is part of a more extensive and planned initiative. Following this initial batch from Russia, future systems will be produced in India by an Indian company as part of the technology transfer deal.
This procurement follows a lengthy selection process that began in 2010 under the then United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. In 2018, Rosoboronexport, the Russian manufacturer of the Igla-S, was chosen over competitors from France and Sweden in a bidding process that declared it the lowest bidder. However, the selection faced controversy as competitors from France and Sweden protested the decision, alleging that the Russian system did not meet the technical requirements outlined in the Request for Proposal (RFP).