New Delhi/Chandipur: India has taken a decisive step in strengthening its short-range air defence capabilities, with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducting three consecutive flight trials of the Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, off the Odisha coast.
The trials were aimed at revalidating the missile system’s ability to intercept and destroy fast-moving aerial threats across varying speeds, ranges and altitudes. In all three tests, the missiles accurately tracked and neutralised high-speed targets simulating hostile aircraft under different operational scenarios.
The @DRDO_India has successfully conducted three successive flight trials of Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.
These tests were carried out to revalidate the capability of VSHORADS missile system… pic.twitter.com/5dtAb45MHG
— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) February 27, 2026
Significantly, the tests were carried out in the system’s final deployment configuration. Field operators handled target acquisition and missile firing, demonstrating operational readiness under realistic combat conditions.
Advanced range instruments, including telemetry systems, electro-optical trackers and radars, recorded detailed flight data, which confirmed the missile’s precision and effectiveness against diverse aerial threats.
The @DRDO_India has successfully conducted three successive flight trials of Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.
These tests were carried out to revalidate the capability of VSHORADS missile system… pic.twitter.com/5dtAb45MHG
— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) February 27, 2026
The user validation trials were witnessed by representatives of the armed forces, senior DRDO officials and industry partners involved in the system’s development and production.
VSHORADS, a man-portable air defence system, has been indigenously designed and developed by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat in collaboration with other laboratories and production partners. The system is intended to serve all three branches of the armed forces — the Army, Navy and Air Force — by providing a quick-reaction shield against low-altitude threats, including aircraft and drones.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the armed forces and industry partners on the achievement, describing the three successive trials as a major milestone and expressing confidence that the system will soon be inducted into service.
DRDO Chairman and Defence R&D Secretary Dr Samir V Kamat also praised the teams behind the design, development and testing of the missile system, calling the achievement a testament to India’s growing self-reliance in defence technology.
