Dikhyaa Mohanty 
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully carried out the maiden flight tests of the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS), Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced on Sunday. The tests were conducted at 12.30 p.m. on Saturday (August 23) off the coast of Odisha. Sharing the achievement on X, Rajnath Singh said, “IADWS is a multi-layered air defence system comprising of all indigenous Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM), Advanced Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missiles and a high power laser-based Directed Energy Weapon (DEW).”
“This unique flight test has established the multi-layered air defense capability of our country and is going to strengthen area defense for important facilities against enemy aerial threats,” the defense minister continued, congratulating the DRDO, the Armed Forces, and the defense sector. The purpose of the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System is to combat a variety of aerial threats. To offer complete air defense, the system combines radar, launchers, missiles, targeting and guiding systems, and command-and-control units.
Unlike imported systems, it is indigenously developed and integrates multiple layers of defence, including QRSAM, VSHORADS, and DEW to protect strategic assets. This successful test comes close on the heels of another milestone achieved by India’s missile programme. On August 20, the nuclear-capable Agni-5 intermediate-range ballistic missile was test-fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur in Odisha.
