Layering Air Defences: Why India's Army is Buying Britain's Martlet Missile

India's Army has recently finalized a deal with the UK to acquire Thales' Lightweight Multirole Missile, better known as the Martlet. This acquisition has raised an important question: why is the Indian Army procuring Martlet when DRDO has already developed the Very Short Range Air Defence System, or VSHORADS, for frontline troops?

The answer lies in the technology and operational capabilities of each system. While both can engage low-flying aerial threats, Martlet's laser-beam-riding guidance system offers a different approach, making it more effective against drones and electronic warfare. This is in contrast to VSHORADS, which uses an imaging infrared seeker and is designed for frontline military formations, providing a highly mobile air-defence capability against threats like helicopters and unmanned aerial systems.

The two systems complement each other, with VSHORADS suitable for close-range air-defence in the plains and Martlet providing an additional option for high-altitude areas and mountain warfare. DRDO has designed VSHORADS with high-altitude deployment in mind, making it particularly relevant for India's northern borders. The proposed Martlet order is not a sign of VSHORADS' inadequacy, but rather a reflection of the Army's requirement for a diversified and layered short-range air-defence architecture.

Having both systems would provide the Indian Army with a more robust and flexible air-defence capability, reducing dependence on a single missile technology. The combination of VSHORADS and Martlet would enable the Army to address a range of aerial threats, from low-flying drones to high-altitude aircraft, and provide a more effective air-defence umbrella for frontline troops. This approach would also allow the Army to take advantage of the strengths of each system, providing a more comprehensive and layered air-defence capability.

The proposed Martlet order is expected to be signed soon, and if concluded, it would make India the second-largest customer for the LMM globally, behind Ukraine. This acquisition is not a sign of the Army's lack of confidence in VSHORADS, but rather a reflection of their requirement for a more comprehensive and layered air-defence capability.

In conclusion, the Indian Army's decision to acquire Martlet missile is a strategic move to enhance their air-defence capabilities, and it is not a sign of VSHORADS' inadequacy. Rather, it is a reflection of the Army's requirement for a diversified and layered short-range air-defence architecture, which would provide a more robust and flexible air-defence capability.