IGLA-S (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Russia recently signed a contract to supply Igla-S hand-held anti-aircraft missiles to India and has allowed the production of the Igla under license.

Igla-S

• About: The Igla-S is a man-portable air defense system (MANPADS) developed by Russia.

oKnown as SA-24 Grinch in the West.

oEntered service with the Russian Army in 2004.

• Operational Capabilities: It can be fired by an individual or crew to bring down an enemy aircraft.

oCapable of bringing down low-flying aircraft.

oIdentifies and neutralizes air targets, including cruise missiles and drones.

Key Features of Igla-S

• Combat Equipment: Comprises the 9M342 missile and the 9P522 launching mechanism.
• Maintenance Equipment: Includes the 9V866-2 mobile test station and the 9F719-2 test set.
• Range: Up to 6 km.
• Altitude: Effective target destruction is 3.5 km.
• Guidance: Heavier, more powerful warhead to maximize damage capabilities.

oUtilizes contact and timed fuses for increased attack range.

oWarhead is a high-explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG) weighing 2.5 kg.

oGuidance is homing via infrared.