The Indian Army has inductedlinkasmall number of Igla-S man-portable air defense (MANPADS) systems tobolster its defense capabilities amid ongoing tensions with China andPakistan.
India procured the Russian systems through emergency financial powers,allowing the army to purchase the weapons immediately without furtherclearances.
In December 2021, 216 missiles, 24 launchers, and additional testingequipment were delivered to the South Asian nation as part of theprocurement.
India’s decision to buy the Igla-S MANPADS from Russia came after the BalakotairstrikelinkinFebruary 2019 and the standoff with China in Eastern Ladakh in May 2020.
A larger contract for Igla-S systems under the Very Short-Range Air DefenseSystem agreement is under review by the Indian defense ministry.The Igla-S System
An advanced variant of the Igla MANPADS, the Igla-S system can engagelow-flying aircraft and helicopters and identify air targets such as cruisemissiles and drones.
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It reportedly serves as the last line of defense against enemy threats in amulti-layered air defense system.
The system comprises the 9M342 missile, the 9P522 launching mechanism, the9V866-2 mobile test station, and the 9F719-2 test set.
“Igla-S man-portable air defense system is designed to defeat all types ofvisible fixed- and rotary-winged aircraft on head-on and in pursuit coursesas well as small aerial targets like cruise missiles around the clock underinduced thermal and background noise,” Rosoboronexport saidlinkonits website.
