Igla

Igla, meaning “needle” in Russian, is a designation used for a family of Russian portable air-defense systems (MANPADS). The best-known version is the original Igla system, which in NATO terminology is designated SA-18 Grouse. Developed by the Soviet and later Russian defense industry, it is a shoulder-fired, infrared-guided missile system designed to defend against aircraft and helicopters at short range.

The original Igla system is a compact, manual-launch system that pairs a shoulder launcher with infrared-homing missiles and a simple sighting device. It entered service in the late 1980s and has been widely exported and deployed by various countries. Its design emphasizes portability, ease of use, and resistance to some infrared countermeasures, although effectiveness depends on engagement conditions and operator proficiency.

An improved variant, the Igla-S, is also part of the family. Marketed to enhance performance and countermeasures resistance, the Igla-S features an updated infrared seeker, improved guidance and processing, and expanded engagement envelopes. It is intended to replace older Igla equipment in frontline service and has been distributed to multiple operators around the world.

Beyond armament, the word Igla also means “needle” in Russian, and the term appears in various non-military contexts. In military use, the Igla family remains one of the long-standing lines of man-portable air defense systems, with ongoing assessments of its capabilities in relation to newer generations of MANPADS and evolving countermeasures.