DRDO Scores Historic Success with First Ever Flight-Tests of Integrated Air Defence Weapon System
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the first-ever flight tests of the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) on August 23, 2025, at about 12:30 PM along the Odisha coast.
IADWS is a completely domestic, multi-layered defence system that integrates Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missiles (QRSAM), Advanced Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missiles, and a high-energy laser-based Directed Energy Weapon (DEW).
The entire system is controlled by a Centralised Command and Control Centre, which has been developed by the Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), the lead agency for this project. Although VSHORADS has been designed by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI), the Directed Energy Weapon was designed by the Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS).
During the test, the system effectively neutralised three airborne targets at a time, consisting of two high-speed fixed-wing drones and a multi-copter drone. These were intercepted and destroyed at different ranges and altitudes by the QRSAM, VSHORADS, and laser weapon system. All the subsystems—missiles, drone detection and kill systems, command-and-control, communications, and radars—functioned flawlessly, with authentication established by the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur. The tests were witnessed by senior DRDO scientists and Armed Forces officials.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has congratulated the DRDO, the Armed Forces, and the Indian defence industry on this achievement, as it has showcased India's real multi-layered air defence capability and will give strong protection to vital assets against enemy aerial threats.
DRDO Chairman and Secretary, Department of Defence R&D, Dr. Samir V. Kamat, also extended congratulations to all the teams involved in the successful maiden trials.
Read more:
India, US Fast-Track Tejas Engine Deliveries as Follow-On Orders Near Finalisation
Indian Navy to Commission Two Advanced Stealth Frigates Udaygiri and Himgiri
