New Delhi: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully carried out the maiden flight-tests of the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) off the coast of Odisha at around 1230 hrs on August 23, 2025. Designed as a multi-layered defence shield, IADWS integrates indigenous Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missiles (QRSAM), Advanced Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missiles and a high-power laser-based Directed Energy Weapon (DEW).

The system is operated through a Centralised Command and Control Centre developed by the Defence Research & Development Laboratory, which serves as the nodal agency for the programme. VSHORADS has been developed by the Research Centre Imarat, while the Directed Energy Weapon has been designed by the Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences. During the exercise, three different aerial targets, including two high-speed unmanned aerial vehicles and a multi-copter drone, were simultaneously tracked and destroyed at varying ranges and altitudes using QRSAM, VSHORADS and the High Energy Laser weapon system.

All subsystems, including missile platforms, drone detection and destruction systems, command and control, communications, and radar networks, functioned seamlessly. Their performance was validated by instruments deployed by the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, which captured detailed flight data. The trial was observed by senior DRDO scientists and representatives from the armed forces.

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh complimented DRDO, the armed forces and industry partners for the achievement. He said, “This unique flight-tests has established the multi-layered air-defence capability of the country and is going to strengthen area defence for important facilities against enemy aerial threats.”

Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat also congratulated all teams involved in the successful tests.

BI Bureau