“BOOSTING AIR DEFENCE: INDIAN ARMY RECEIVES IGLA-S SYSTEMS”

Why in the news?

  • The Indian Army is set to receive the next batch of Igla-S air defence systems, addressing critical gaps in its air defence capabilities and fulfilling procurement under Emergency Procurements (EP).
  • Payments issues between India and Russia, impacting defence deals, have been resolved, facilitating smoother transactions for critical equipment acquisitions like the Igla-S systems.

About Igla-S:

  • Developed by Russia, known as SA-24 Grinch in the West.
  • Capable of engaging low-flying aircraft, cruise missiles, and drones.
  • Effective range up to 6 km, with a maximum altitude for target destruction of 3.5 km.
  • Warhead: 5 kg high-explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG) with contact and timed fuzes.
  • Guidance: Infrared homing for precise targeting.
source:slideserve
About Unmanned Aerial Vehicles:

  • Definition: UAVs are aircraft that operate without a human pilot onboard, either controlled remotely by a human operator or autonomously through pre-programmed systems or artificial intelligence.
  • Regulation in India: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) oversees the regulation of all aerial vehicles, including UAVs, in India.
  • Drone Rules 2021 and Drone Amendment Rules 2022: These rules were introduced to support the UAV industry and include restrictions on foreign drone imports, reflecting the growing significance of UAV technology in India’s aviation landscape.