India is set to deploy a fully indigenous, multilayered Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) to secure the Delhi National Capital Region against a spectrum of aerial threats — from ballistic and cruise missiles to drones and high-speed fighter aircraft.

Senior defence officials told that the new IADWS will rely entirely on homegrown missile platforms, led by the Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) and Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS). These will be fused with a dense grid of sensors, radars, data links and a real-time command-and-control network.

The Defence Ministry has accelerated the project amid heightened concerns following Pakistan’s reported attempt to strike Indian territory during Operation Sindoor in May, an incident that sharpened New Delhi’s focus on strengthening the capital’s air shield.

The move marks a major strategic and economic shift. India had earlier considered acquiring the US-made NASAMS-II — the system that defends Washington DC and the White House — but negotiations stalled over what officials described as an “unacceptably high” cost.

By choosing an indigenous architecture instead, India aims to build a scalable, cost-effective air defence grid that can be continuously upgraded with domestically developed platforms.

The system will be operated by the Indian Air Force, which oversees air defence of critical assets across Delhi-NCR. DRDO will lead integration efforts, linking missile batteries with surveillance platforms and a unified command-and-control backbone.

“Multiple systems need to be networked for a complex air defence architecture like this,” a senior official said, underscoring the technical challenges and significance of the programme.

India has rapidly expanded its air defence capabilities in recent years. DRDO’s portfolio now includes:

• QRSAM (Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile)

• MRSAM (Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile)

• Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile (under Project Kusha, in development)

India is also inducting its remaining S-400 Sudarshan systems from Russia, while evaluating Russian proposals for additional S-400 units and the next-generation S-500.

Once operational, the indigenous IADWS will form the backbone of Delhi’s aerial defence architecture — a decisive step toward strategic autonomy and a reduced reliance on foreign systems for protecting the nation’s most sensitive airspace.