Answer by Commander Rathore: I will answer your questions in four steps: -
- Aerial threats
- Missile Air Defence system in India (I am not touching upon aircrafts/attack helicopters & anti-aircraft guns) against aerial threat
- VSHORAD System and its Deployment
- Technical details of IGLA-S
- Aerial threats
Aerial threat from a missile, aircraft, helicopter or a UAV must be detected and then destroyed. The detection of aerial threats is done by using Radars and Airborne warning and control system (AWACS). Threat engagement involves destroying or damaging hostile airborne elements using fighter aircraft and Surface to air missiles (SAM) systems and guns (with rapid rate of fire).
Apart from different fighter aircrafts, there are different missile system available with Indian Armed forces to defend the country against an aerial threat. The missile air defence system of India is multilayered (starting from long range SAM system, medium range SAM and lastly short-range missile SAM system). This way we ensure that there is minimum possibility of a hit by an incoming aerial threat: -
- Missile Air Defence system in India (I am not touching upon aircrafts/attack helicopters & anti-aircraft guns) against aerial threat
Long Range (will be deployed shortly):
S-400 missile system: India has purchased S-400, which is the best long-range air defence system against any aerial targets. It can intercept drones, stealth fighters over a range of 400 Kms, India plans to install 3 at west border (Pakistan) and 2 at east border (China).
The Indian Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Program forms a multi-layered ballistic missile defence system to protect India from ballistic missiles.
XRSAM missile system: XRSAM Air Missile Weapon system will have a range of 350km against targets like Bombers, AWACS and Mid-Air refuellers which usually operate from the depth of its own air space and it will be able to take down fighter size targets at a 250km range which is quite similar to the 48N6E3 Surface to Air Missile system which India will be getting with Russian S-400 advanced air defense systems. It will also be able to engage Stealth fighters and Ballistic Missile in the terminal stage. XRSAM Air Missile Weapon system will also come in Canister based transportable Truck based launcher system.
Medium Range (operational & deployed):
MRSAM missile system: Initially developed as a shipborne air defense missile system for navy only, it subsequently evolved into a medium range SAM for land forces also. The current version is called Barak-8.
Each MRSAM (medium range surface to air missile) weapon system comprises of one command & control system, one tracking radar, missiles, and mobile launcher systems. The phased array radar provides a high-quality air situation picture, while the bidirectional data link is used for relaying midcourse guidance and target information to the missile. It has the ability to engage multiple targets simultaneously at ranges of 70km. The advance version or Barak-8ER can neutrilises targets up to 150 km.
Currently, there are three variants of the Barak-8 system. The first one is called Barak 8 AMD/LRSAM, which is a naval air defence system. The second variant is called MRSAM or a medium-range, land-based missile system (which comes with a tracking radar, a command and control system, and mobile launcher systems). The third variant is known as Barak MX, which comes with a flexible configuration option, making it useful both in naval and land missions.
The Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) system (operational & deployed): it is a double-tiered system consisting of two land and sea-based interceptor missiles, namely the Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) missile (kill range 50-80 Km) for high altitude interception, and the Advanced Air Defence (AAD) Missile (Kill range 30 Km) for lower altitude interception. The BMD system also includes an overlapping network of early warning and tracking radars (geographically distributed), as well as command and control posts. The enemy cruise missiles can also be detected and destroyed by S-400 and the AAD system.
Akash SAM System: The Akash SAM system (also uses other missiles like Nag, Agni, Trishul and Prithvi) defends vulnerable areas in all weather conditions against medium-range air targets being attacked from low, medium and high altitudes. The most important element of the Akash SAM system battery is its high-power, multi-function Rajendra phased-array radar.
The 3D passive electronically scanned array Rajendra radar (PESA) can electronically scan and guide the missile towards targets.
The Akash missile can be launched from static or mobile platforms (T-72, BMP-2), such as battle tanks, providing flexible deployment. The SAM can handle multitarget and destroy maneuvering targets such UAVs, fighter aircraft, cruise missiles and missiles launched from helicopters. The Akash can intercept from a range of 30km and provide air defence missile coverage of 2,000km².
Short Range (operational & deployed):
The SPYDER system: It is a low-level, quick-reaction surface-to-air missile system capable of engaging aircraft, helicopters, unmanned air vehicles, drones, and precision-guided munitions. The system is fitted atop a truck. Thus, it is portable system and will move with our forces. As a short-range air defence system, the SPYDER-SR has a short range of interception. The maximum altitude of interception is 9 km and the maximum range of interception is 15 km. The SPYDER-MR has a greater operating range of 35 km and an altitude engagement of 16 km due to the missiles being equipped with boosters. The Indian Armed Forces will use the SPYDER along with the made-in-India Akash surface-to-air missile which has a little longer effective range of 25 km as part of a layered approach to defend vital assets and locations in the country.
It is possible that an enemy missile, aircraft, helicopter or a UAV still manages to evade the above-mentioned systems and is flying towards one of our unit/ship/installation. The last line of missile defence is “VSHORAD man-portable system”.
- VSHORAD System and its Deployment
VSHORAD system: Under the Very Short-Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) program, 5,175 missiles and associated equipment are being purchased from Russia. India will acquire 2,315 missiles in fully formed condition, 1,260 missiles in a semi-knocked down condition, 1,000 missiles in completely knocked-down condition and 600 missiles will be manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Ltd. In addition, the associated equipment will include launchers, sensors, thermal imaging sights and command & control units.
VSHORAD man-portable systems will be employed by the Armed Forces in varied terrains including high altitude areas, plains, desert areas, coastal areas and on ships. The VSHORAD systems will be integrated to a passive/active sensor for mounting on a platform with facility to mount on light vehicles. These systems will also have a dedicated command, control & communication unit for detection, processing and engaging aerial targets such as unmanned aerial vehicles and helicopters.
Army, Navy and Air Force will use IGLA-S against visible aerial targets at short range such as tactical aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs), cruise missile, head-on or receding, in presence of natural (background) clutter and countermeasures. IGLA-S will be the last line of defence in the multi-layer air defence system of any unit/ship/installation.
- Technical details of IGLA-S
The 72.2 mm IGLA-S 9M342 missile has a length of 1,690 mm and a weight of 11.3 kg. Powered by a solid propellant booster, the missile can strike targets flying at an altitude of up to 3,500 m at a speed of 400 m/s. It has a maximum target engagement range of up to 6,000 m. It has an optical homing passive seeker which directs the missile towards the target. The IGLA-S can hit in any weather condition during day or night. IGLA-S missile system will replace the existing IGLA-M in service. Compared to older IGLA-M air defense systems, IGLA-S has a longer range and a significantly larger warhead.
The targeting and control system of IGLA-S is located on the launcher tube. With the 9M39 SAM inserted in the launch tube, the firing involves starting the ground power supply, powering the target acquisition unit and the missile. Identification friend or foe (IFF) is carried out before target engagement by an interrogator mounted on the launch tube. The night sight can also be mounted for day/night interoperability. The launcher sight assembly is used to target aerial vehicles and missile is fired using grip-stock assembly. This starts the launch motor which pushes the 9M39 missile out of the launch tube. On nearing/reaching the target the warhead ignites neutralizing the target. The IGLA-S missile is fitted with a high-explosive (HE) blast fragmentation warhead with a proximity and impact fuse.
Being the last line of aerial defence, every high value unit/installation/ship will have the IGLA-S system and a crew (only one person is required as it is shoulder launched missile) will always be ready to fire the missile at incoming aerial threat at short notice.