Development and Integration of Indigenous Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS): UPSC Current Affairs Story Arc

Overview

This arc documents the rapid evolution and integration of India's indigenous air defense capabilities in 2025. It began with the validation of the Mk-II(A) Laser DEW in Kurnool, a weapon system that uses concentrated energy rather than kinetics to destroy targets like drone swarms and missiles. This component was then integrated into the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS), a 'system of systems' combining Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missiles (QRSAM) and Very Short-Range Air Defense Systems (VSHORADS). The arc culminated in successful flight tests off the Odisha coast, demonstrating a seamless, multi-layered shield managed by a central command system, significantly reducing India's reliance on foreign defense platforms.

How This Story Evolved

Component validation (Laser DEW) → System integration (IADWS Maiden Flight) → System capability demonstration (IADWS Multi-target Test)

1. 2025-04-15: DRDO tests Laser-Directed Energy Weapon system
   More details

   UPSC Angle: DRDO tests Laser-Directed Energy Weapon system; India fourth country.

   Key Facts:

   • Mk-II(A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon System tested by DRDO
   • Test carried out at National Open Air Range in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh
   • Engages aerial targets: fixed-wing drones, multiple drone swarms, missiles, surveillance sensors and antennae
   • Technology is based on minimum collateral damage
   • DRDO
   • MK II A
   • Laser-guided energy weapon system
   • Fourth country with this technology
   • System: Mk-II(A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW)
   • Location: Kurnool
   • Developed by: DRDO's Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS) in Hyderabad
   • Date: April 13, 2025
2. 2025-10-23: DRDO's IADWS Maiden Flight Test off Odisha Coast
   More details

   UPSC Angle: DRDO conducts maiden flight test of IADWS off Odisha coast.

   Key Facts:

   • Maiden flight test of Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) conducted on August 23, 2025
   • Test conducted off the Odisha coast
   • IADWS integrates QRSAM, VSHORADS, and a Directed Energy Weapon
3. 2025-08-25: DRDO Conducts Flight Tests of Indigenous Air Defence System
   More details

   UPSC Angle: DRDO conducts flight tests of Indigenous Air Defence System.

   Key Facts:

   • IADWS flight tests conducted off the coast of Odisha
   • System can destroy 3 targets at different ranges and altitudes
   • Includes Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missiles (QRSAM) with a range of 25-30 km
   • Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS)
   • Laser-based Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) MK-II(A)
   • Centralised Command and Control Centre developed by DRDL Hyderabad
   • QRSAM designed and developed by DRDO
   • VSHORADS and DEW developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI) and Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS) respectively
   • DRDO successfully tested the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) on August 24, 2025.
   • The IADWS is a multi-layered air defence system.
   • The system includes 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).
   • QRSAM was designed and developed by DRDO.
   • VSHORADS and DEW were developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI) and Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS), Hyderabad-based facilities of the DRDO.
   • The Vehicle mounted Laser DEW MK-II(A) defeated fixed wing UAV and swarm drones, causing structural damage and disabling their surveillance sensors during field demonstration in April 2025.
   • DEW has a range of less than three kilometers.
   • The system has an operation range of three to 30 kilometers.
   • The QRSAM weapon ensemble includes a fully automated command and control system, two radars (Active Array Battery Surveillance Radar and Active Array Battery Multifunction Radar), and one launcher.
   • DRDO conducted flight tests of the Indigenous Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS)
   • Tests occurred off the coast of Odisha
   • System includes Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missiles (QRSAM)
   • System includes Very Short-Range Air Defense System (VSHORADS)
   • System includes a high-power laser-based Directed Energy Weapon
   • System is managed via a central command system
   • Successfully destroyed three aerial targets: two high-speed UAVs and a drone

Genesis

Trigger

The successful validation of the Mk-II(A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) system at the National Open Air Range in Kurnool on April 15, 2025.

Why Now

The shift toward 'drone swarm' warfare (seen in recent global conflicts) rendered traditional missile-only defenses economically and tactically inefficient. India needed a 'layered' approach combining kinetic missiles with low-cost-per-shot laser technology.

Historical Context

This builds on the 'Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme' (IGMDP) legacy, but represents a leap into 'Fourth Generation' warfare where software-defined command systems integrate diverse weapon types (missiles + lasers).

Key Turning Points

1. [2025-04-15] Validation of Mk-II(A) Laser DEW at Kurnool

   Proved that India had a viable non-kinetic weapon ready for integration.

   Before: India relied solely on kinetic missiles (expensive/limited magazine). After: India possesses a 'speed of light' weapon with infinite magazine capacity as long as power is supplied.

2. [2025-08-25] IADWS Multi-target Flight Test

   Demonstrated the central command's ability to manage multiple weapon types simultaneously.

   Before: QRSAM and VSHORADS operated as standalone units. After: They function as a unified 'Integrated' weapon system.

Key Actors and Institutions

Key Institutions

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
• National Open Air Range, Kurnool
• Integrated Test Range (ITR), Odisha

Key Concepts

Directed Energy Weapon (DEW)

A system that uses concentrated electromagnetic energy (lasers or microwaves) to incapacitate or destroy targets without using projectiles.

Current Fact: The Mk-II(A) Laser DEW was successfully tested on April 15, 2025, in Kurnool, making India the 4th country to possess this tech.

Multi-layered Air Defence

A defensive strategy using different systems to cover various ranges (Short, Medium, Long) and altitudes to ensure no target bypasses the shield.

Current Fact: The IADWS integrates QRSAM (25-30 km range), VSHORADS, and Laser DEW for a comprehensive shield.

QRSAM (Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile)

A short-range missile system designed to provide air defense cover to moving armored columns of the Army.

Current Fact: Integrated into the IADWS during the August 23, 2025, maiden flight test.

What Happens Next

Current Status

As of late 2025, the IADWS has successfully completed multi-target flight tests, proving its ability to destroy 3 targets at different altitudes and ranges in a single mission.

Likely Next

User trials by the Indian Army and Air Force for operational induction, followed by the development of vehicle-mounted mobile versions of the Laser DEW for border protection.

Wildcards

Breakthroughs in counter-laser coatings by adversaries or significant shifts in defense procurement budgets toward AI-driven autonomous systems.

Why UPSC Cares

Syllabus Topics

• Indigenization of technology and developing new technology
• Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
• Security challenges and their management in border areas

Essay Angles

• Technology as the new frontier of national sovereignty
• The shift from traditional kinetic warfare to energy-based defense

Prelims Likely: Yes

Mains Likely: Yes

Trend Signal: rising

Exam Intelligence

Previous Year Question Connections

• What is Mission Shakti (Anti-Satellite Missile)? — Both represent India's entry into elite global defense clubs (ASAT and now DEW).
• Identifying Air Defence Missile systems like Akash and Trishul. — The IADWS is the next-generation evolution of these individual systems into an integrated platform.

Prelims Angles

• India is the 4th country globally to possess Laser DEW technology.
• The Mk-II(A) Laser DEW is effective against drone swarms and surveillance sensors.
• The QRSAM system integrated into IADWS has a range of 25-30 km.
• Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh) is a site for National Open Air Range testing.

Mains Preparation

Sample Question: Critically analyze the significance of the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) in modernizing India's security architecture. How does the inclusion of Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) change the economics of aerial defense?

Answer Structure: Intro: Define IADWS and the milestone achievement in 2025. Body 1: Components (QRSAM, VSHORADS, DEW) and their specific roles. Body 2: Strategic advantages (Indigenization, multi-layered protection, countering drone swarms). Critical Analysis: Economics of DEW (Low cost per shot vs. high R&D) and limitations (weather dependence of lasers). Conclusion: Future path toward self-reliance in defense (Aatmanirbhar Bharat).

Essay Topic: From Swords to Lasers: The Evolution of Defensive Might in the 21st Century.

Textbook Connections

Key Takeaway

The IADWS transition from component validation to multi-target integration marks India's shift from a missile-reliant defense to a tech-agnostic, integrated, and indigenous multi-layered shield.

All Events in This Story (3 items)

1. 2025-04-15 [Defense & Security] — DRDO tests Laser-Directed Energy Weapon system
   DRDO has successfully conducted trials of the Mk-II(A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) system at the National Open Air Range in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. This makes India the fourth country in the world to have this technology. The system can engage aerial targets such as fixed-wing drones, multiple drone swarms, missiles, surveillance sensors, and antennae.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: DRDO tests Laser-Directed Energy Weapon system; India fourth country.

   Key Facts:

   • Mk-II(A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon System tested by DRDO
   • Test carried out at National Open Air Range in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh
   • Engages aerial targets: fixed-wing drones, multiple drone swarms, missiles, surveillance sensors and antennae
   • Technology is based on minimum collateral damage
   • DRDO
   • MK II A
   • Laser-guided energy weapon system
   • Fourth country with this technology
   • System: Mk-II(A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW)
   • Location: Kurnool
   • Developed by: DRDO's Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS) in Hyderabad
   • Date: April 13, 2025
2. 2025-10-23 [Defense & Security] — DRDO's IADWS Maiden Flight Test off Odisha Coast
   DRDO successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) off the Odisha coast on August 23, 2025. This multi-layered air defence platform integrates indigenous components such as QRSAM, VSHORADS, and a Directed Energy Weapon.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: DRDO conducts maiden flight test of IADWS off Odisha coast.

   Key Facts:

   • Maiden flight test of Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) conducted on August 23, 2025
   • Test conducted off the Odisha coast
   • IADWS integrates QRSAM, VSHORADS, and a Directed Energy Weapon
3. 2025-08-25 [Defense & Security] — DRDO Conducts Flight Tests of Indigenous Air Defence System
   The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the first flight tests of the Indigenous Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) off the coast of Odisha, enhancing India's multi-layered air defense against aerial threats. The system includes Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missiles (QRSAM), Very Short-Range Air Defense System (VSHORADS), and a high-power laser-based Directed Energy Weapon, managed via a central command system. During testing, the system successfully destroyed three aerial targets, including two high-speed UAVs and a drone.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: DRDO conducts flight tests of Indigenous Air Defence System.

   Key Facts:

   • IADWS flight tests conducted off the coast of Odisha
   • System can destroy 3 targets at different ranges and altitudes
   • Includes Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missiles (QRSAM) with a range of 25-30 km
   • Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS)
   • Laser-based Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) MK-II(A)
   • Centralised Command and Control Centre developed by DRDL Hyderabad
   • QRSAM designed and developed by DRDO
   • VSHORADS and DEW developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI) and Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS) respectively
   • DRDO successfully tested the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) on August 24, 2025.
   • The IADWS is a multi-layered air defence system.
   • The system includes 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).
   • QRSAM was designed and developed by DRDO.
   • VSHORADS and DEW were developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI) and Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS), Hyderabad-based facilities of the DRDO.
   • The Vehicle mounted Laser DEW MK-II(A) defeated fixed wing UAV and swarm drones, causing structural damage and disabling their surveillance sensors during field demonstration in April 2025.
   • DEW has a range of less than three kilometers.
   • The system has an operation range of three to 30 kilometers.
   • The QRSAM weapon ensemble includes a fully automated command and control system, two radars (Active Array Battery Surveillance Radar and Active Array Battery Multifunction Radar), and one launcher.
   • DRDO conducted flight tests of the Indigenous Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS)
   • Tests occurred off the coast of Odisha
   • System includes Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missiles (QRSAM)
   • System includes Very Short-Range Air Defense System (VSHORADS)
   • System includes a high-power laser-based Directed Energy Weapon
   • System is managed via a central command system
   • Successfully destroyed three aerial targets: two high-speed UAVs and a drone