India’s indigenous military communication programme has achieved another milestone with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) releasing Security Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) for the Indian Radio Software Architecture (IRSA). The development marks further progress towards establishing a common and interoperable software framework for military Software Defined Radios (SDRs) used by the Indian Armed Forces.
The newly released Security APIs provide standardised interfaces for integrating security features into military radio systems. Their introduction completes an important component of the IRSA framework, which aims to improve compatibility between communication equipment developed by different manufacturers and support common technical standards across the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force.
The IRSA initiative is being developed under DRDO’s Defence Electronics Applications Laboratory (DEAL). Work on the architecture began in 2022 in consultation with the Integrated Defence Staff and the three services to establish a common software standard for military radios.
A significant milestone was achieved in October 2025 when DRDO, in collaboration with the Integrated Defence Staff and the three services, released IRSA Standard 1.0. The framework introduced standardised interfaces, APIs and mechanisms for waveform portability, allowing different radio platforms to operate within a common architecture.
The release of Security APIs builds on this foundation by providing a standardised approach to incorporating security capabilities into compatible radio systems. It is expected to simplify integration, improve interoperability and support the development of indigenous communication technologies.
The initiative is also progressing through service-specific programmes. The Indian Navy is operating a DRDO-developed tactical Software Defined Radio, while the Indian Army’s manpack SDR variant, developed with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), has completed field trials. A separate SDR system for the Indian Air Force is expected by the end of 2026.
The latest development reinforces India’s efforts to reduce dependence on foreign military communication technologies while encouraging domestic defence manufacturers to develop compatible systems. With the release of Security APIs, DRDO is taking another step towards a unified, upgradeable and interoperable communication architecture for the Indian Armed Forces.