India is trying to strengthen its air defense capabilities by purchasing a new batch of Igla-S man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) from Russia, designed to be deployed along the line of actual control. This is reported by CTV, according to UNN.
Details
This initial batch includes 24 launchers and 100 associated missiles. This step is aimed at strengthening the very short-range air defense capabilities of the Indian army, especially along the line of actual control, the mountainous northern borders, where new air defense formations are being created.
A limited number of these systems were initially deployed in 2021 as part of an emergency procurement, but this new order is part of a larger and planned initiative. After this first delivery from Russia, future systems will be manufactured in India by an Indian company under a technology transfer agreement.
Context
As a reminder, the delivery of two regimental sets of S-400 air defense missile systems from Russia to India, which was supposed to take place by the end of 2023, has now been postponed to 2026. The reason for the delay is the problems of the Russian military industry.