India Successfully Tests Integrated Air Defence Weapon System

India Successfully Tests Integrated Air Defence Weapon System

Why in News? 

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) carried out a crucial series of flight-tests of the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) on August 23, 2025, near the Odisha coast.

• During the exercise, three different aerial targets were taken down successfully. Two of them were high-speed fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles, while the third was a multi-copter drone. 
• The IADWS responded with precision and neutralised each target at different heights and distances.

What is the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS)?

• About: The Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) is a layered defence structure developed to protect critical assets from diverse aerial threats. It combines multiple weapon platforms into a single operational framework. The system can counter hostile aircraft, drones, and precision-guided munitions effectively. This integration allows the armed forces to track, target, and destroy incoming threats quickly. 

• Objectives: The main goal of IADWS is to provide quick defensive action against threats appearing at short and medium distances.

• The goal is to integrate traditional missile systems with new-age solutions like laser-based weapons and drone destruction systems. 

• The system ensures that no single type of aerial threat can bypass defence lines. 

• It also focuses on providing mobility to forces during combat. This mobility is vital for responding to fast-changing battlefield environments. 

• The system also seeks to reduce dependence on imports by creating homegrown technologies. 

Key Components of IADWS

• Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM): The QRSAM is one of the most important weapons in the IADWS structure. DRDO began work on this system in 2007 to provide the Army with a mobile defence solution. It is capable of striking targets at ranges between 25 to 30 kilometres. This missile system is capable of tracking and striking fast-moving aircraft and drones with high accuracy. Its high mobility allows it to move along with ground formations. The QRSAM uses solid-fuel technology and carries a guidance system that ensures accuracy. 

• Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS): The VSHORADS is a man-portable missile system designed for immediate point defence. It is developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad. India tested an updated version of this system in 2022. It can engage low-flying targets such as helicopters, small drones, and cruise missiles within 6 to 8 kilometres. The missile is lightweight and can be deployed quickly on the battlefield. It uses an imaging infrared seeker that improves accuracy against manoeuvring targets. It is a fourth-generation and Man-Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD).

• High Energy Laser Weapon System: The High Energy Laser platform functions as a directed energy weapon that operates on laser technology. DRDO has been working on such technologies since the early 2010s under its directed energy programme. It employs a focused laser beam to eliminate low-speed aerial threats and small drones effectively. It is capable of striking targets at ranges less than 30 kilometres. It offers the advantage of silent operation and low cost per shot. Lasers do not require ammunition and can be used repeatedly with high precision.

Strategic Importance for India’s National Security

• Protection of Critical Infrastructure: India has more than 130 operational airports and over 7,000 defence-related installations, many of which require layered air defence. The system can defend air bases and command centres from aerial strikes. Protecting these sites ensures uninterrupted military and civilian operations during conflict.

• Boost to Self-Reliance: The development of IADWS aligns with the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission launched in 2020. India imported around ₹1.93 lakh crore worth of defence equipment between 2017 and 2022, according to the Ministry of Defence. By producing systems like IADWS, India cuts this import bill and strengthens its domestic defence industry. It is also a stepping stone towards India’s “Mission Sudarshan Chakra”.

• Enhancement of Future Warfare: Modern conflicts now involve drones, precision-guided munitions, and swarm attacks. Different Global defence reports in 2023 highlighted that over 65% of aerial attacks in conflict zones involved drones or UAVs. IADWS counters these threats with laser weapons and drone detection units, making India ready for future battlefields. 

India’s Integrated Counter UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) Grid

India has created an Integrated Counter UAS Grid to strengthen its air defence structure. This framework links long-range, medium-range, and short-range missile systems to provide layered protection against aerial threats, including drones, aircraft, and guided weapons.

• S-400 Triumf: The S-400 Triumf, referred to in India as Sudarshan Chakra, stands as the most advanced element of this network. Equipped with powerful radars and electronic warfare tools, it ensures complete 360-degree security. The S-400 can monitor objects up to 600 km away and destroy them within 400 km, while covering altitudes from 30 meters to 30 km. This flexibility allows it to intercept both low-flying drones and high-speed ballistic missiles.

• Barak 8: The Barak 8, also identified as MR-SAM or LR-SAM, enhances the grid with medium-to-long-range defensive capacity. This missile system was a joint project between India and Israel, and it completed successful trials in 2015. Capable of reaching speeds of Mach 2, the Barak 8 can strike targets as far as 100 km. It is designed to neutralise multiple threats at the same time, including aircraft, UAVs, and cruise missiles. The system operates in both land-based and naval versions, strengthening India’s defences on land and at sea.

• Akash Weapon: The Akash Weapon System highlights India’s indigenous capability in air defence. It is a short-range surface-to-air missile developed to engage aircraft, drones, and guided weapons effectively. The Akash covers distances between 4.5 km and 25 km and functions at altitudes from 100 meters to 20 km. With built-in Electronic Counter-Counter Measures (ECCM), it is resilient against jamming. Its ability to target multiple objects simultaneously in group or autonomous modes makes it a reliable part of India’s air defence shield.