Sudarshan Chakra air defence system completes successful maiden test

India has carried out the first firing tests of a new Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) that consists of missiles and high-powered lasers to take down enemy air threats. The multi-layered system is designed to defeat threats ranging from incoming aircraft and missiles to drones using different weapons that can be engaged simultaneously.

The new system will be part of the Sudarshan Chakra project announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this month from the Red Fort and will in the future integrate long-range interceptors capable of taking down ballistic missiles as well.

Officials said on Friday that IADWS was tested off the coast of Odisha and three different targets – two high-speed fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicle targets that simulated incoming fighter jets and a multi-copter drone – were simultaneously engaged and destroyed completely.

“IADWS is a multi-layered air defence system comprising all indigenous quick reaction surface-to-air missiles (QRSAM), advanced very short range air defence system (VSHORADS) missiles and a high-power laser-based directed energy weapon (DEW),” they said.

A Centralised Command and Control Centre developed by Defence Research & Development Laboratory was at the heart of the system, linking the VSHORADS and DEW that have been developed by Research Centre Imarat and Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences respectively.

Officials added the targets were destroyed at different ranges and altitudes to check the effectiveness of the system. “All the weapon system components including the missile systems and drone detection and destruction system, weapon system command and control along with communication and radars, performed flawlessly which was confirmed by Range instruments deployed to capture the flight data,” they said.DRDO is also working on a long-range air defence system under Project Kusha, which would be capable of taking on aerial threats at a distance of over 400 km. Being developed in partnership with the private sector, Kusha will also be integrated into the IADWS.Following the successful test, defence minister Rajnath Singh complimented DRDO, the armed forces and the industry for the successful development of IADWS and said that the new system will strengthen area defence for important facilities.