Blowpipe (missile) vs VSHORAD (India)

Under development^[source]

See Operators^[source]

Indian Armed Forces^[source]

Falklands War Soviet–Afghan War Gulf War Cenepa War^[source]

Short Brothers^[source]

Research Centre Imarat^[source]

1975^[source]

Short Brothers^[source]

Adani Defence & Aerospace ICOMM Tele Limited^[source]

1975 to 1993^[source]

34,382^[source]

Shaped charge^[source]

2.0 kg (4.4 lb)^[source]

Solid rocket motor^[source]

Dual-thrust rocket motor^[source]

MCLOS system^[source]

Dual waveband IIR^[source]

man-portable (MANPADS) surface-to-air missile^[source]

After Blowpipe began to enter service, it was decided it would replace the Bofors 40mm/L70 guns in service with the Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve . The first such unit was formed in July 1978 in Northern Ireland . In February 1980 it was decided to increase the number of such units, and a further £20 million order was placed to equip another 12 units, bringing the total to 48.^[source]Blowpipe (missile) · History / Development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The Blowpipe's guidance is initially semi-automatic with the missile gathered to the centre of the sight's crosshairs by the infrared optic atop the aiming unit. Two to three seconds after launch, missile guidance is switched to fully MCLOS mode and the operator regains full control of the missile. The operator has to steer the missile all the way to its target manually via a small thumb joystick . The operator can opt not to use auto-gathering when engaging low flying targets such as helicopters but then has to super-elevate the launcher to ensure that the missile does not hit the ground. Four flares in the tail of the missile make it visible in flight, first to the infrared optic, then to the operator. Detonation is either by proximity or contact fuse . In emergencies, the operator can end an engagement by shutting off the power to the transmitter with the system switch, after which the missile will immediately self-destruct. The aiming unit can then be removed from the empty missile container and fitted to a new round.^[source]Blowpipe (missile) · Description; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Blowpipe was used by both sides during the Falklands War in 1982. With targets typically being fast-flying aircraft approaching at low altitude and using the terrain for cover, the Blowpipe operator had about 20 seconds to detect, align, and fire. Brigadier Julian Thompson compared using the weapon to "trying to shoot pheasants with a drainpipe". British forces fired 95 missiles during the conflict, of which approximately half suffered various failures. Only one confirmed kill was attributed to Blowpipe when an Argentine Navy Aermacchi MB-339A (4-A-114) was shot down on 28 May by a missile fired by the Royal Marines Air Defence Troop during the Battle of Goose Green . The pilot, Sub-Lieutenant Miguel, was killed.^[source]Blowpipe (missile) · Combat performance; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Blowpipe was found to be particularly ineffective when used to engage a crossing target or to chase a target moving rapidly away from the operator. Its poor performance led to it being withdrawn from British service. In 1986, some of the mothballed units were sent clandestinely to equip the Mujahideen whom Britain was supporting , fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan . The system again proved ineffective, and was eventually supplanted by the US Stinger missile. While Blowpipe was available on the international arms market and therefore its origins were open to speculation, the Stinger was restricted, which at the time indicated a more open acknowledgement of Western support for the Mujahideen. With the arrival of Stinger, Blowpipe was used primarily as a manually-guided long-range weapon against ground targets. Blowpipe missile systems were still being found in weapon caches as recently as May 2012 in Afghanistan.^[source]Blowpipe (missile) · Combat performance; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Igla-1M has been in use by the Indian Army since the 1980s. Presently, the system is ill-equipped to handle emerging contemporary threats.^[source]VSHORAD (India) · History; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

According to the MoD 's request for proposal to purchase next generation VSHORADs, which was released on 4 May 2025, 48 launchers, 48 night vision sights, 85 missiles, and one missile test station would be purchased under Buy (Indian) category. The Indian design VSHORAD must have at least 50% indigenous content. Foreign design VSHORAD must contain at least 60% indigenous content. The infrared guided VSHORAD should be able to function day and night in all weather conditions, including places covered in snow. The system must work in plains and rivers, deserts, coastal regions, maritime environments and at elevations of 4,500 meters or above. With a maximum range of 6 km, it should be able to reach targets up to 3.5 km altitude.^[source]VSHORAD (India) · Order; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

United Kingdom^[source]Inventory Origin column; table 8, row 4, cell 4; revision 1342029330; retrieved 2026-10-02

Adaptive proximity fuze^[source]

Solid propellant^[source]

3,500 m (11,500 ft)^[source]

Shoulder-launched Tripod weapon system Vehicle mounted system (Anti-Drone system) CROSSHAIR-N Naval system (1×8)^[source]