Why in the News?

The DRDO has successfully conducted the maiden flight-tests of the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) off the coast of Odisha.

About the Indigenous Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS):

• Overview: A multi-layered indigenous system developed to neutralise a wide spectrum of aerial threats.
• Integration: Combines 3 components viz. Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missiles (QRSAM), Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS), and Directed Energy Weapon (DEW).
• Control: All systems are networked through a Command-and-Control Centre developed by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad.

Key Components of IADWS:

1. QRSAM:
   • Short-range missile system for protecting moving Army armoured formations.
   • Range: 3–30 km.
   • Equipped with 360° surveillance and tracking radars.
   • Fully automated, mobile, and capable of “search on move” and “track on move.”
2. VSHORADS:
   • Fourth-generation man-portable air defence system (MANPAD).
   • Range: 300 m – 6 km.
   • Targets include drones, UAVs, and low-altitude aerial threats.
   • Deployable across Army, Navy, and Air Force.
3. Directed Energy Weapon (DEW):
   • Vehicle-mounted laser system.
   • Range: <3 km.
   • Proven in field trials against UAVs and drone swarms.

Strategic Significance:

• Multi-Layer Defence: Provides aerial protection up to 30 km against threats from drones to fighter jets.
• Self-Reliance: Enhances indigenous capability, reducing dependence on imported defence systems.
• National Security: Strengthens preparedness for Mission Sudarshan Chakra — India’s planned national air defence shield.
• Technological Integration: Demonstrates India’s leap in combining missile and laser-based defence on a single platform.
• Geostrategic Importance: Seen as a milestone in India’s path to advanced, self-reliant defence systems.

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