Saralnama
India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the country's first indigenous Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) on August 23, 2025, marking progress in the Sudarshan Chakra mission announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The system engaged and destroyed three aerial targets, including two high-speed fixed-wing UAVs and a multi-copter drone, simultaneously at different ranges and altitudes. The IADWS integrates Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missiles (QRSAM), Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS), and a high-power laser-based Directed Energy Weapon (DEW), controlled through a centralized command center with advanced radars and communications. It can intercept fighters, helicopters, and drones up to 30 km away, with the DEW disabling small drones at close range using 2 to 10 kilowatt lasers. This development supports the broader Mission Sudarshan Chakra, aiming to establish a comprehensive, multi-layered air defence shield by 2035, integrating defence research organizations and private industry, and linking with the Air Force’s Integrated Air Command and Control System and the Army’s Akashteer network. The IADWS adds an indigenous element to India’s existing layered missile defence, which includes systems like S-400 Triumf and Barak-8 MRSAM, previously tested during Operation Sindoor against drone and missile… (Updated 25 Aug 2025, 10:36 IST; source: link)