The government of India has approved the deployment of an indigenous, multi-layered air defence system to protect the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) from enemy threats including drones, missiles and fast moving aircraft marking a major step in bolstering the country’s aerial security while reducing reliance on foreign weapons platforms.
A shift to fully home-grown air defence
According to senior defence officials, the soon-to-be-deployed Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) will be built entirely around indigenous missile platforms: notably Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM) and Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS), supported by a network of radars, sensors and a central command-and-control architecture.
Earlier, India had considered procurring the American NASAMS-II, the same air-defence system that protects Washington, DC, and the White House but abandoned the plans due to its high cost.
Context: Strengthening air defence after recent threats
The decision comes in the wake of reported attempts to strike Indian territory with missiles and drones during Operation Sindoor in May 2025, which heightened the urgency of acquiring a robust aerial shield for vital zones like Delhi-NCR.
With the upcoming IADWS, the Indian Armed Forces under the aegis of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Air Force (IAF) aim to integrate multiple layers of detection and interception capabilities, from short-range to medium-range missiles, radar coverage, and command-and-control systems.
Building on existing and evolving capabilities
The IADWS adds to India’s growing indigenous defence portfolio. DRDO has already developed QRSAM and other systems; work is underway on longer-range systems under projects like Project Kusha.
Meanwhile, India continues to induct more units of the Russian-origin S-400 Triumf air-defence missile system, and is evaluating acquisition of even more advanced systems such as the proposed S-500 Prometheus, keeping a mix of indigenous and foreign systems in its aerial defence architecture.
A milestone for self-reliance in defence
Defence analysts view the move as a reaffirmation of the country’s commitment to self-reliance in critical defence capabilities. By choosing to deploy home-grown technologies instead of costlier foreign-made systems, New Delhi aims to build a scalable, upgradeable, and sustainable air-defence grid especially over sensitive airspace that includes the national capital.
With the IADWS becoming operational over Delhi-NCR, India will significantly raise the bar on its readiness to counter evolving aerial threats from low-altitude drones to high-speed aircraft and missiles while galvanising its indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem.
