India to Deploy Igla-S Air Defence Systems Near Line of Actual Control with China

India has taken delivery of 24 Igla-S man-portable air-defence systems (MANPADS) along with 100 missiles from Russia, which are slated for deployment along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.

This was reported by the Indian press on April 8 citing sources.

This acquisition forms part of a broader agreement inked last year for a total of 120 launchers and 400 missiles.

The recent shipment of Igla-S systems is the initial batch to arrive from Russia, with the remainder of the order set to be manufactured in India through a Transfer of Technology (ToT) arrangement facilitated by an Indian company. The procurement of Igla-S systems is specifically earmarked for newly authorized air defence formations, tailored for the demanding high-altitude terrain along India's northern border.

The genesis of this acquisition dates back to a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Very Short-Range Air Defence Systems (VSHORADs) initiated in 2010 under the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. Highlighting the urgent need for modernization, then-Army chief General (retd.) V.K. Singh underscored in a 2012 communique to the former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that a substantial portion—nearly 97 percent—of the existing air defence apparatus was rendered obsolete, inadequately equipped to deter enemy aerial threats.

Sources in the defence establishment told The Print that while the Army inducted a very small number (24 launchers and 216 missiles) of Igla-S as part of emergency procurement in 2021.

In a competitive bidding process concluded in 2018, Russia's Rosoboronexport emerged victorious with its Igla-S system over rival offerings from France's MBDA (Mistral) and Sweden's SAAB (RBS 70 NG), positioning itself as the most cost-effective solution (L1).

MANPADS are characterized by their portability and utility in neutralizing low-altitude aerial threats, including drones, aircraft, and missiles—particularly in the challenging mountainous regions where Indian defence forces are strategically deployed.

India's Armed Forces currently operate earlier variants of the Igla systems, notably the Igla-1M, which are due for phased replacement by the more advanced Igla-S, with improved interception range of up to 6km. This transition aligns with the Army's ongoing efforts to modernize its air defence capabilities, with future plans set to introduce laser-beam riding and infrared-guided VSHORADS. The contract for these advancements is on the cusp of finalization.

In a parallel development this year, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted successful flight tests of indigenous VSHORADS missiles from a portable ground launcher.