August 25, 2025

India has fired up its newest superhero in the air defence game! The Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) has cleared its very first test-fire, featuring a spicy mix of missiles plus high-powered lasers ready to zap enemy airborne villains. This sparkling new multi-layered system is built to tackle an entire threat party — from incoming fighter jets and nasty missiles to pesky drones — all at the same time! This dazzling weapon setup will be a key part of the Sudarshan Chakra project, unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the historic Red Fort just a few weeks ago. In coming days, it will get even stronger by adding long-range interceptors to shoot down ballistic missiles with lightning precision. Officials shared the exciting news on Friday that the IADWS test happened off the Odisha coast. Three tricky targets were lined up: two speedy unmanned aerial vehicles mimicking fighter jets and one multi-copter drone. Guess what? All of them were blasted out of the sky perfectly and simultaneously! They said, "IADWS is a multi-layered air defence system comprising all 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)." At the heart of this futuristic system is a smart Centralised Command and Control Centre crafted by the Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL). This command centre cleverly links the VSHORADS and the deadly laser weapons developed by Research Centre Imarat and Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences. The tests smashed targets at different heights and distances to prove the system’s eagle-sharp accuracy. Officials happily confirmed, "All the weapon system components including the missile systems and drone detection and destruction system, weapon system command and control along with communication and radars, performed flawlessly which was confirmed by Range instruments deployed to capture the flight data." But wait, there’s more! DRDO is also cooking up a long-range air defence beast under Project Kusha. It will zap aerial threats over 400 km away and will team up with IADWS soon. This project also involves smart partnerships with private industry to pack even more power. Following this sensational success, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lauded the combined efforts of DRDO, the armed forces, and industry heroes. He said the new system will be a game-changer in guarding important installations across India, making the motherland safer than ever before.

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Tags: Integrated air defence weapon system, Iadws, Drdo, Missiles, Laser weapons, Rajnath singh,