India's Adani Manufactures Russian-Origin Igla-S Air Defense Systems

India has manufactured a batch of Igla-S man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) under a Russian license, with delivery to Adani Defense Systems and Technologies Limited (ADSTL) expected in May.

This is reported by Army Recognition.

As part of a technology transfer agreement with Russia’s Rosoboronexport, ADSTL will produce and supply 48 Igla-S launchers and 100 missiles to the Indian Army in the initial phase. The Indian Ministry of Defense had selected the Russian 9K338 Igla-S system in 2018 to replace the older Igla-1M. The Russian bid won over France’s MBDA Mistral 2 and Sweden’s SAAB RBS-70 Mk.2. The total deal, which included 5,175 missiles and 800 launchers, was previously valued at $1.5 billion, though no formal contract was announced.

In 2021, Russia and India reported to the UN Register of Conventional Arms Transfers that India had received 390 MANPADS launchers and 2,184 guided missiles. However, since 2022, neither country has provided further data. In July 2021, an Indian delegation in Moscow had requested faster deliveries of Igla-S systems, along with Russian-made assault rifles and ammunition.