India plans to purchase Russia's man-portable air defence missile system (MANPADS), the Economic Times reported on Tuesday.
According to media outlets, Russia and its man-portable air defence system Igla won a tender in India to deliver $1.5 billion worth of short-range air defence systems, competing with Sweden's SAAB RBS70 NG and France's MBDA Mistral
The Indian media further reported that the new missiles should replace the Russian Igla-M systems. The Igla-S system is considered critical for defence against incoming helicopters, UAVs and ground attack aircraft.
211216-N-QI061-1222 NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. (December 16, 2021) An MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), assigned to Unmanned Patrol Squadron 19 (VUP-19), sits on the flight line at Naval Station Mayport, Florida, Dec. 16, 2021. VUP-19, the Navy’s first Triton squadron, will continue to maintain and operate the aircraft off the East Coast to further develop the concept of operations and refine tactics, techniques, and procedures. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nathan T. Beard/ Released)