India’s push to develop an indigenous and interoperable military communication system has reached a major milestone. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) released the Indian Radio Software Architecture (IRSA) Security APIs on 10 November 2026, completing a key component of the national framework.

The newly released application programming interfaces (APIs) will allow developers and system integrators to incorporate standardised security functions into software-defined radio (SDR) platforms. They will ensure uniform security integration across military communication systems operating on a common software architecture. The move also strengthens IRSA’s goal of building an open, interoperable and future-ready communication ecosystem for the armed forces.

DRDO formally released IRSA 1.0 in October 2025 in collaboration with the Integrated Defence Staff and the three armed services. It marked India’s first nationally developed software standard for military software-defined radios. The framework aims to ensure compatibility across different radio platforms and military users.

The initiative began in 2021, when the need for a national SDR standard emerged as an important requirement for joint military operations. A DRDO-led core team started gathering operational requirements from the Army, Navy and Air Force in 2022. This laid the groundwork for a unified architecture supporting multiple radio platforms and waveforms.

DRDO’s Defence Electronics Applications Laboratory (DEAL) developed IRSA to establish the technical foundation for SDR interoperability. The architecture covers interfaces, APIs, execution environments and waveform portability. It allows software waveforms to operate across compliant radio platforms with minimal modifications.

The standard also aims to reduce dependence on vendors, simplify system upgrades and encourage domestic developers and manufacturers to build compatible military communication systems.

Director General of Electronics and Communication Systems (ECS), Dr BK Das, has emphasised the importance of the framework, stating that any SDR adopted by the armed forces must conform to IRSA standards and remain interoperable across all three services.

The armed forces have already started adopting IRSA-compliant systems. The Indian Navy operates a DRDO-developed tactical SDR, while the Indian Army’s manpack SDR variant, manufactured in collaboration with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), has successfully completed field trials. The Indian Air Force is also expected to receive a new SDR designed for its requirements by the end of 2026.