India has taken a significant leap to fortify its aerial boundaries. On August 23, 2025, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted the inaugural successful test of the Integrated Air Defense Weapon System (IADWS) off the coast of Odisha.
This fully indigenous multilayered air defense shield is adept at countering enemy drones, aircraft, and missiles. During testing, the system simultaneously neutralized three aerial targets, potentially revolutionizing India’s air defense.
The test followed Operation Sindoor, where India successfully intercepted drones and missiles from Pakistan. Let's delve into how India has woven this aerial defense net. What's the technology behind it? What are its advantages?
Read More:
Source: aajtak
The IADWS is an integrated system combining numerous indigenous technologies. It can address various aerial threats from drones to high-speed aircraft. The system successfully destroyed two high-speed fixed-wing UAVs and a multi-copter drone at different altitudes and distances, all parts, including missile systems, drone detection, command control, communication, and radar, functioned impeccably. This system is managed by the Defense Research and Development Laboratory's (DRDL) centralized command and control center.
Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM):
The first layer of the system, developed by DRDO, is designed for army mobile units. Mounted on an 8x8 high-mobility vehicle, QRSAM features 'fire-on-the-move' capability. It boasts two radars: an active array battery surveillance radar (120 km range) and an active array battery multifunction radar (80 km range) offering 360-degree coverage.
It covers a range of 25-30 km and an altitude of up to 10 km, targeting aircraft, helicopters, drones, and missiles. QRSAM is developed to replace older systems like Osa-AK and Kvadrat, progressively becoming 90% indigenous, aiming for 99%. In testing, QRSAM successfully neutralized medium-range and altitude targets.
Advanced Very Short Range Air Defense System (VSHORADS):
This man-portable missile, developed by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI), is designed for low-altitude threats (300 meters to 6 km), like drones. Lightweight and field-deployable, it caters to the army, navy, and air force.
Read More:
Propelled by a dual-thrust rocket motor, it features a miniaturized reaction control system (RCS) and integrated avionics. VSHORADS destroyed low-altitude UAVs during testing, intended to replace the older Igla system.
High-Power Laser-Based Directed Energy Weapon (DEW):
The most advanced component, developed by the Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS). In April 2025, DRDO tested a 30 kW laser capable of destroying drones, helicopters, and missiles up to 3.5 km.
Read More:
Equipped with 360-degree electro-optical sensors and jamming features, DEW successfully dismantled a multi-copter drone during testing. DRDO Chief Sameer V. Kamat emphasized this as the beginning... as work continues on high-energy microwaves and electromagnetic pulse technology, aiming to provide 'Star Wars' capabilities.
Together, these components counteract everything from low-flying drones to high-speed aircraft. The centralized control center integrates radar, communication, and weapons, enhancing reaction time and accuracy.
The IADS is a networked system connecting radars, mobile command posts, and space-based sensors, forming a distributed shield that keeps enemies at bay. Russia's S-400 (400 km range) is an example. Designed for regional threats, India's IADWS echoes this, with testing conducted at the Chandipur Integrated Test Range where range instruments captured data.
Read More:
The IADWS test followed the successful trial of the Agni-5 ballistic missile. However, it draws inspiration from Operation Sindoor (May 2025), in which India countered Turkish-origin drones and Chinese missiles from Pakistan. This operation highlighted the necessity of indigenous systems, fulfilled by IADWS. Countries like Russia, China, and Iran employ IADS tactics to counter U.S. airpower. India's system is similar but indigenous.
IADWS provides India with a robust shield against aerial threats. With QRSAM, VSHORADS, and DEW, this multi-dimensional defense system has proven that India can counter adversaries with homegrown technology. Learning from Operation Sindoor, India is now gearing up for future wars.
