With multi-layered capabilities and laser weapons, India now enters the elite club of nations with futuristic air defence technology. (Image Credits: Swarajya)
India has successfully tested a cutting-edge Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) off the Odisha coast, in what defence experts are calling a historic leap in the country’s security architecture.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) carried out the first test, validating a variety of technologies intended to identify, engage, and eliminate aircraft threats at various ranges and altitudes.
The development comes just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled Mission Sudarshan Chakra, a 10-year roadmap to build an indigenous national security shield capable of neutralising enemy threats while simultaneously striking back with overwhelming force.
During the trial, the IADWS successfully intercepted and destroyed three targets in real-time, including two high-speed fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles and a multi-copter drone. The interceptions were carried out by three distinct layers of the shield:
According to the defence ministry, all components, from radars and communication systems to drone detection and destruction modules — worked seamlessly under the oversight of the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur.
With the inclusion of a laser-based directed energy weapon, India now joins an elite group of nations such as the US, Russia, China, the UK, Germany, and Israel, which have developed advanced technologies to disable drones, missiles, and smaller projectiles.
Earlier in April, DRDO had tested a locally developed laser weapon that successfully knocked out fixed-wing drones and swarm formations. Saturday’s demonstration proved that India is not just catching up, it is now capable of integrating these systems into a cohesive, centralised defence grid.
Prime Minister Modi had announced the launch of Mission Sudarshan Chakra in his Independence Day address, drawing inspiration from the Mahabharata’s legendary divine weapon wielded by Lord Krishna. The initiative, he said, would expand and modernise India’s defensive shield by 2035, turning it into a powerful offensive-defensive hybrid system.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the successful trial, saying it has “established the multi-layered air-defence capability of our country” and will protect vital installations against enemy aerial threats.
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The test comes in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, India’s direct military action against Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalgam terror strike that killed 26 people. During the R-day confrontation, India's Akashteer system demonstrated its effectiveness by piercing several waves of Pakistani drones and missiles, guaranteeing prompt identification and counterattack.
Mated with the Indian Air Force’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), Akashteer served as the backbone of India’s air defence grid — a role that IADWS is now set to expand.
The IADWS will be gradually integrated into the larger framework of Mission Sudarshan Chakra, promising a four-tiered national shield that blends indigenous technology with future-ready weapons. From missiles to directed energy systems, India’s defence grid is being reshaped to secure both military and civilian infrastructure from emerging aerial threats.
