In a positive development, the Indian army is boosting up its weapon cabinet by developing two Indigenous shoulder-fired air defence missile systems. The project is very crucial to counter the possible threats of drones and fighter jets from the border countries of China and Pakistan.

The project involves the collaboration of public sector units (PSUs) and private firms, including a Hyderabad-based PSU and a Pune-based private sector firm developing a laser beam riding Very Short-Range Air Defense System (VSHORADS) for the first project. The aim is to provide 2000 missiles and 350 launchers to our troops of army and air force.

The second project on the other hand is working on the initial tripod-based system, updating it to allow the soldiers to launch the missiles from their shoulders. For the second project, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is working in collaboration with selected partners, including Adani Defence and I-Comm Engineering Limited, a Hyderabad-based firm.

The development of these two projects is very crucial for the country's Make in India approach. The projects are making the country self-reliant in their Defence technology. This approach focuses on replacing and augmenting the existing inventory, primarily comprising Russian Igla-1M missiles.

The officials have shown optimism as the project is still underway, this is very encouraging, they said.

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