India takes a significant step towards self-reliance in air defence sector, initiating the development and implementation of an integrated national defence system designed to protect the _National Capital Region_ (NCR) of Delhi from aerial and missile attacks.
According to Defence sources reported by the ANI agency, the project involves the creation of a multilayer architecture based exclusively on assets and technologies developed in the country.
The future _Integrated Air Defence Weapon System_ (IADWS) will be structured around a combination of missile systems of varying range and function. Among the main components are the _Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile_ (QRSAM), aimed at neutralizing medium-range and high-speed threats, and the _Very Short Range Air Defence Systems_ (VSHORADS), optimized for engaging approaching low-altitude targets such as drones, helicopters, and guided munitions. These will be integrated with radar, sensors, command and control centers, and network liaison units capable of providing a shared view of the tactical scenario.
The decision comes at a delicate time, after last May, within the so-called _Operation Sindoor_, Pakistan allegedly attempted to approach Indian airspace with tactical platforms and potentially hostile assets. This event has highlighted the urgency to consolidate a highly responsive multi-tiered defense over a sensitive area like the capital.
The project also represents a strategic shift from previously speculated programs. New Delhi had indeed considered the acquisition of the US NASAMS-II system, developed by Raytheon, specifically for the protection of metropolitan areas and critical infrastructures. The orientation towards an entirely national system signifies an evolution of Indian strategy, which aims to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers and value domestic industrial capacity.
Cover image: Akash Army Launcher passes through the Rajpath, on the occasion of the 68th Republic Day Parade 2017, in New Delhi on January 26, 2017.
