DRDO Completes First Flight Tests of Integrated Air Defence System

Fast Summary

• The Defense Research and Growth Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) on August 23, 2025, at 12:30 PM off the coast of Odisha.
• IADWS is a multi-layered air defence system developed indigenously and includes quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missiles (QRSAMs), Advanced Very Short Range air Defence System (VSHORADS) missiles, and Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) technology.
• Defence Minister rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, Armed Forces, and Indian Defence industry for demonstrating this capability. He stated that it would enhance national security by protecting critical areas from aerial threats.
• Earlier on August 20, India successfully test-fired the Agni-5 Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile from ITR Chandipur under Strategic Forces command.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The prosperous maiden flight test of the Integrated Air Defence Weapon system marks a significant milestone in strengthening India’s indigenous defence capabilities. Being entirely developed within India reflects significant advancements in domestic defence technology, reducing reliance on imports while boosting self-sufficiency in national security apparatuses. As a multi-layered system capable of intercepting various types of aerial threats, IADWS enhances India’s preparedness against evolving enemy tactics such as drones or missile strikes targeting strategic installations.

From a strategic outlook,this also signals India’s ongoing commitment to modernizing its military infrastructure amid regional security concerns and global proliferation challenges. Coupled with recent tests like Agni-5’s validation run days earlier-confirming operational readiness-the series indicates active efforts to reinforce deterrence measures across multiple domains: both defensive systems like IADWS and offensive ones via long-range ballistic technologies.

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