Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in collaboration with the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) and the Tri-Services, released the Indian Radio Software Architecture (IRSA) standard 1.0 during a national workshop held on October 6 at DRDO Bhawan, New Delhi. The standard aims to enable interoperability in military communication and strengthen India’s indigenous defence technology capabilities.
IRSA 1.0 provides a comprehensive software specification for Software Defined Radios (SDRs), defining standardized interfaces, APIs, execution environments, and waveform portability mechanisms. The framework ensures waveform portability, SDR interoperability, certification, and conformance, laying the groundwork for future technology integration and evolving operational requirements.
The workshop brought together representatives from the Indian Armed Forces, Department of Defence Production, Defence PSUs, academia, industry, and research institutions to discuss IRSA’s technical framework, adoption pathways, pilot projects, and collaborative opportunities. The event emphasized the national focus on building inter-operable, future-ready, and indigenous SDR solutions that are designed in India for national security and global applications.
IRSA’s development began in 2021 with a core technical team from DRDO, working closely with IDS and the Services to capture operational requirements. After extensive consultations and reviews, IRSA Version 1.0 was approved by the High-Level Advisory Committee in 2025, marking India’s first national specification for standardized software architecture in SDRs. The initiative positions India to not only strengthen defence communication but also set a global benchmark for SDR technology and export IRSA-compliant solutions to friendly nations.
