Ajai ShuklaAugust 28, 2025 07:12 AM IST First published on: Aug 28, 2025 at 07:12 AM ISTShareLast Saturday, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) announced the maiden flight test of a new, all-indigenous, Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) off the coast of Odisha. The IADWS is a three-layered system for shooting down enemy aircraft, drones and missiles when they are as far away as 30-35 km. It comprises a Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QR-SAM) with a range of 30 km, an Advanced Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) with a range of up to 6 km, and a high-power, laser-based, directed energy weapon (DEW) with a range of 2-4 km. The integrated operation of all three systems is controlled by a Centralised Command and Control Centre, developed by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) — the DRDO’s nodal laboratory in charge of this development programme.“During the flight tests, three different targets, including two high-speed, fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles and a multi-copter drone, were simultaneously engaged and destroyed completely… All the weapon system components, including the missile systems and drone detection and restriction systems, performed flawlessly,” stated the DRDO. The IADWS missile defence system incorporates multiple technologies that the DRDO has developed over time, in different labs. This provides a demonstration of how capabilities built in individual technology realms can be integrated into weapon systems that serve specific battlefield requirements.AdvertisementIndia began this technological synergising with the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) that was set up in 1983 by A P J Abdul Kalam. The IGMDP’s “missile cluster”, located mainly in Hyderabad, consists of five laboratories, each directed to a specific, but linked, purpose. The so-called missile cluster, which includes the Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), specialises in rockets and missiles. It has developed and honed the Agni and Prithvi series of ballistic missiles, which form the delivery end of India’s nuclear deterrent. Over the years, the DRDO has developed these two ballistic missiles into a highly advanced anti-ballistic missile (ABM) shield, an anti-satellite (ASAT) missile system and into advanced capabilities such as multi independently targetable re-entry vehicle (MIRV).Similarly, as part of the IGMDP, the development of a series of tactical missiles, including the anti-aircraft Trishul and Akash and the anti-tank Nag missile, were entrusted to the DRDL. These, too, have been developed further into a range of more capable tactical missiles.The IGMDP has also spawned the DRDO Young Scientists Laboratory for asymmetric technologies, such as AI and quantum computing. There is the Terminal Ballistic Research Laboratory that specialises in warhead design. The most essential is the Research Centre Imarat, which specialises in critical missile technologies such as navigation and control, guidance and homing systems, command and control systems and high temperature materials that are essential for long-range missiles and aircraft.AdvertisementThese sophisticated technologies, mostly developed by public sector agencies like the five IGMDP laboratories, are trickling down into defence products manufactured by capable private sector technology companies, such as Carborundum Universal Limited (CUMI). Earlier this year, CUMI announced the signing of a “Licensing Agreement for Transfer of Technology” with the DRDO for manufacturing ceramic radomes — essential, state-of-the-art technology for missiles and high-performance aircraft during flight regimes. Radomes experience extremely high surface temperatures, especially during flight regimes such as re-entry from space. To withstand that, radomes at the tip of Indian missiles are made of specialised ceramics developed in the DRDO’s laboratories.Besides the growing synergy between India’s public and private sector defence firms, there are opportunities for working with foreign partners, such as the Israeli military, in developing integrated air defences that can repulse combined operations by the Pakistani and Chinese air forces, such as during Operation Sindoor earlier this year. How would such a technology partnership function? The DRDO could partner with Israel’s military and defence industry in developing layered air defence systems such as the Iron Dome. Its sophisticated radar detects, identifies and tracks incoming threats within a 160-km radius. Its Tamir interceptor missile, which travels at one kilometre per second, leaves the Iron Dome battery with less than a minute to respond to a missile launch. Working fast, the battery commanders analyse the threat and launch their Tamir interceptors. In seconds, the incoming warheads would have detonated into lethal fragments of high-speed metal.most readIn the modern battlefield, money is everything. An interceptor’s cost determines how many can be fired. The Tamir initially cost about $1,00,000 each to produce, but the Israeli industry brought down the price to $40-$50,000. The technology challenge involves integrating the individual elements of the missile shield. For targets at ranges beyond the Iron Dome’s 160 km, Israel deploys the US-supplied Terminal High Altitude Area Defence System (THAAD), which intercepts ballistic missiles outside the atmosphere at ranges out to 200 km. The next layer is David’s Sling, with a range of 300 km. For the outer layer, Israel’s Arrow 3 system destroys medium-range ballistic missiles at ranges out to 2,400 km.When India enters into an international collaboration that involves joint development, we have thus far followed the rule of sharing our strengths and complementing our weaknesses. When we developed the BrahMos cruise missile with Russia, our clearly defined work share included the navigation system and the mission control. We had done a similar exercise in the case of the LR-SAM, where it was reported that we would develop the rear section and the Israelis would provide the front section and the seeker. Since we are doing the entire integration, it will be an Indian product.When we began jointly developing the LR-SAM with the Israeli weapons industry, we knew that no such system was available with the Israelis. The Israeli Navy came forward to collaborate only because they badly wanted a new system for their warships. The Indian Navy also wanted a new system. We never enter into a collaboration for a product that already exists.The writer is a retired army officer and journalist