Igla-S

The Igla-S is a Russian man-portable surface-to-air missile (SAM) system designed for short-range air defence. It is one of the most advanced variants of the Igla (meaning “needle” in Russian) series developed by the KBM Design Bureau, intended to provide infantry and mobile units with the capability to engage low-flying aircraft, helicopters, drones, and cruise missiles. Compact, mobile, and easy to operate, the Igla-S represents a highly effective component of modern ground-based air defence systems.

Background and Development

The Igla series traces its origins to the Soviet Union’s efforts during the late 1960s and 1970s to improve upon the earlier Strela (SA-7 and SA-14) family of shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles. The first Igla (SA-16) entered service in the early 1980s, offering improved seeker sensitivity and countermeasure resistance. As aviation technology advanced, especially with the widespread use of flares and electronic countermeasures, Russia developed the Igla-S, also known by its NATO designation SA-24 “Grinch”, as a successor with enhanced capabilities.
Introduced into Russian service in 2004, the Igla-S incorporated improved electronics, a more powerful warhead, and greater accuracy. The system was developed primarily by the Kolomna-based Engineering Design Bureau (KBM) and is produced by the KBP Instrument Design Bureau. It represents the culmination of decades of Soviet and Russian research into man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS).

Design and Components

The Igla-S is designed as a shoulder-launched missile system, operable by a single soldier but often deployed in teams for rapid reloading and coordinated coverage. It can also be mounted on light vehicles, naval platforms, or integrated into short-range air defence networks.
The system consists of the following major components:

• Launch tube: A disposable launch canister containing the missile.
• Gripstock/trigger mechanism: Houses the firing electronics, power supply, and sighting unit.
• Missile: Comprises a two-stage solid-fuel motor, guidance system, and high-explosive fragmentation warhead.
• Targeting and friend-or-foe (IFF) equipment: Ensures proper target identification before launch.

The system is portable, weighing approximately 19 kg in combat configuration, allowing rapid movement and deployment by ground troops.

Technical Specifications

• Missile length: 1.63 metres
• Calibre: 72 millimetres
• Total system weight: Approximately 18.7 kilograms (with missile loaded)
• Warhead weight: 2.5 kilograms (high-explosive fragmentation)
• Effective range: Up to 6 kilometres
• Engagement altitude: Up to 3.5 kilometres
• Speed: Approximately Mach 2.3 (around 2,500 km/h)
• Guidance system: Passive infrared (IR) seeker with improved discrimination capability
• Crew: 1–2 operators

The missile uses an advanced infrared seeker capable of distinguishing between the actual target and decoy flares, thus increasing hit probability. The warhead includes an impact and proximity fuze, ensuring detonation either on contact or when the missile passes close to the target.

Operational Function and Features

The Igla-S offers significant improvements over its predecessors, both in lethality and survivability. Key features include:

• Enhanced Seeker Sensitivity: The seeker head is more resistant to modern countermeasures, ensuring greater accuracy against aircraft deploying infrared flares.
• Larger Warhead: The 2.5 kg warhead includes a new explosive composition, giving greater destructive effect even against heavily armoured or larger aerial targets.
• Proximity Fuze: Allows detonation when the missile passes near the target, improving effectiveness against smaller drones and high-speed aircraft.
• Target Identification System: Integrated IFF equipment helps prevent friendly fire by distinguishing friendly aircraft before engagement.
• Night and All-Weather Capability: Can be used with night-vision sights and thermal imagers, making it effective under various conditions.

The system can be operated from the shoulder, or fired from a stationary or vehicle-mounted launcher such as the Gibka-S system, which can carry multiple missiles and engage several targets simultaneously.

Combat Use and Deployment

Since its induction, the Igla-S has been deployed by numerous armed forces worldwide, including Russia, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and several countries in Africa and the Middle East. In India, the system complements other short-range air defence (SHORAD) assets and is used by both the Army and the Air Force to defend against low-altitude aerial threats.
The Igla-S has seen operational use in various regional conflicts where it has demonstrated reliability and effectiveness against low-flying aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Its portability allows ground forces to establish defensive perimeters or protect convoys and installations with minimal logistical support.

Strategic Importance

In modern warfare, the Igla-S plays a critical role in layered air defence. It forms the last line of defence against aircraft that evade long-range missile systems. MANPADS like the Igla-S are especially valuable for:

• Protecting mobile ground units on the battlefield.
• Guarding sensitive installations, forward bases, and logistical routes.
• Providing air defence in terrain unsuitable for larger systems.
• Countering UAVs and cruise missiles that fly at low altitude.

The relatively low cost and simplicity of the Igla-S make it a key asymmetric tool for defending against technologically superior air forces.

Advantages

• High Mobility: Lightweight and easy to transport, enabling rapid deployment.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Considerably cheaper than vehicle-based SAM systems while maintaining effective deterrence.
• Quick Reaction: Capable of engagement within seconds of target detection.
• Resilience to Countermeasures: Improved seeker technology enhances survivability against flares and electronic interference.
• Versatility: Suitable for use by infantry, vehicles, or naval vessels.

Limitations

• Limited Range and Altitude: Effective only against targets within about six kilometres and low altitudes, limiting engagement to tactical aircraft and helicopters.
• Dependence on Visual Tracking: Operators require clear visual or thermal contact, reducing effectiveness in heavy fog or dense cloud.
• One-Shot System: Each tube is single-use, requiring reloading or replacement after firing.
• Risk of Misuse: As with all MANPADS, proliferation poses a potential security risk if weapons fall into unauthorised hands.

Modern Developments and Upgrades

Recent Russian developments have focused on improving networking and integration. The Verba (SA-25) system, which succeeded the Igla-S, introduced a multi-spectral seeker capable of detecting ultraviolet, visible, and infrared radiation, further enhancing discrimination between real targets and decoys. Nevertheless, the Igla-S continues to be produced and exported widely, valued for its simplicity, reliability, and proven battlefield performance.

Significance

The Igla-S remains one of the most capable shoulder-launched anti-aircraft systems in service today. Its blend of portability, precision, and power makes it an indispensable asset for ground forces facing low-altitude threats. By empowering infantry with credible air-defence capability, it reinforces both deterrence and defensive flexibility on the modern battlefield.