India successfully conducted the first flight test of its fully indigenous Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) off the coast of Odisha in 2025. Designed to detect and neutralise enemy aircraft, drones, and missiles at ranges of up to 35 km, the test highlights India’s advancing capabilities in layered air defence technology and system integration.
About Integrated Air Defence Weapon System
The IADWS is structured as a three-tier defence system, comprising:
Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QR-SAM) with a 30 km range
Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) effective up to 6 km
Laser-based Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) with a 4 km operational range
A Centralised Command and Control Centre, developed by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), manages all three layers, allowing the system to simultaneously engage multiple aerial threats, including high-speed drones and multi-copter UAVs.
Technological Integration And Indigenous Development
The IADWS integrates technologies developed across various DRDO laboratories, building on decades of missile research that began with the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) in 1983. This initiative led to specialised labs focusing on propulsion, guidance, control, and warhead design, producing key missile systems such as Agni and Prithvi, central to India’s strategic deterrence.
DRDO Missile Labs And Research Clusters
The Hyderabad-based missile cluster consists of five labs dedicated to different aspects of missile technology:
Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL): Rockets and ballistic missiles
Research Centre Imarat (RCI): Navigation, guidance, and control systems
Terminal Ballistic Research Laboratory: Warhead development
Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL): Tactical missiles like Trishul, Akash, and Nag
Additionally, emerging technologies such as AI and quantum computing are being explored through the DRDO Young Scientists Laboratory.
Collaboration With Industry And International Partners
DRDO is partnering with private firms, including Carborundum Universal Limited (CUMI), to produce advanced defence components like ceramic radomes that protect missile tips from extreme heat. India is also exploring international collaboration, for instance with Israel, to develop layered air defence capabilities akin to Israel’s Iron Dome, aimed at countering multi-tiered aerial threats.
Global Comparisons
India’s IADWS is comparable to Israel’s multi-layered systems, which include:
Iron Dome: Short-range interceptors
David’s Sling: Medium-range missiles
Arrow 3: Long-range ballistic missile defence
While Israel’s system relies on rapid radar tracking and high-speed interceptors, India’s IADWS aims to achieve similar results with an indigenously integrated, cost-effective framework.
Strategic Significance
The IADWS strengthens India’s air defence by providing multi-layered protection against diverse aerial threats. Its indigenous development reduces dependence on foreign technology, improves self-reliance in defence, and enhances battlefield readiness with the capability to neutralise multiple targets simultaneously. Ongoing research, development, and collaborations position India on the path toward advanced integrated missile defence systems.
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