Context: DRDO has conducted the maiden flight test of the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) off the coast of Odisha.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Features of Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS).
Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS)
IADWS is a multi-layered air defence system comprising:
- Indigenous Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missiles (QRSAM)
- Advanced Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missiles
- A high-power laser-based Directed Energy Weapon (DEW)
Three components of IADWS
Indigenous Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missiles (QRSAM):
- QRSAM is a short-range Surface to Air Missile (SAM) system. It is primarily designed to provide a protective shield to moving armoured columns of the Army from enemy aerial attacks.
- The entire weapon system is configured on highly mobile platforms. It has search and track capability and can fire on short halts. The system has an operation range of 3 to 30 kilometers.
- The QRSAM weapon ensemble consists of a fully automated command and control system, two radars (Active Array Battery Surveillance Radar and Active Array Battery Multifunction Radar) and one launcher. Both the radars have a 360-degree coverage with ‘search on move’ and ‘track on move’ capabilities.
Advanced Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) Missiles:
- VSHORADS is a fourth-generation, technically advanced miniaturised Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD).
- The weapon system can neutralise targets between the range of 300 meters and six kilometers, including drones and other classes of aerial threats.
- Effective against drones, UAVs, and low-flying aircraft. Designed for all three services: Army, Navy, Air Force.
Directed Energy Weapon (DEW):
- High-power laser-based weapon (range < 3 km).
- Neutralises UAVs, swarm drones by structural damage & disabling sensors.
- Places India in the exclusive group of nations with operational DEWs.
While QRSAM has been designed and developed by the DRDO, VSHORADS and DEW have been developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI) and Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS) respectively, both Hyderabad-based facilities of the DRDO.
Centralised Command and Control Centre:
- The integrated operation of all these weapon system components is controlled by a Centralised Command and Control Centre, developed by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory, Hyderabad.
Strategic Significance of IADWS
- Enhanced Air Defence: Provides a multi-layered shield against UAVs, drones, and short-range missiles up to 30 km, strengthening national security.
- Indigenous Capability: Showcases India’s self-reliance in defence technology, reducing dependence on foreign imports.
- Network-Centric Warfare: Will integrate with IAF’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) and Army’s Akashteer, improving jointness and real-time coordination.
- Counter to Modern Threats: Combines missiles with Directed Energy Weapons, enabling defence against drone swarms and asymmetric aerial attacks.
- Strategic Deterrence: Enhances India’s credibility to deter Pakistan’s drone incursions and China’s UAV warfare capabilities.
- Mission Sudarshan Chakra: Marks an important step towards developing a indigenous nationwide security shield from multi-dominary enemy attacks under Mission Sudarshan Chakra by 2035.