New Delhi: In a significant boost to India’s futuristic military capability development, the Defence and Research Development Organisation (DRDO) Sunday showcased a 30-kilowatt laser-based weapon system designed to take down helicopters, swarm drones, and radars.
The Mk-II (A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) system’s capability was showcased at the National Open Air Range (NOAR), Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.
With this, India has joined a list of selected countries, such as the US, China, and Russia, with such capabilities.
DRDO chief Samir V. Kamat spoke to news agency ANI, saying that there was just a demonstration on Sunday and that the DRDO, along with the industry, will scale up the power of the weapon system and achieve high efficiency.
“We are also looking at how we can miniaturise it to put it on airborne platforms and how we can put it on ships. It is a journey that has started today,” said Kamat.
The DRDO chief added that his scientists were working on other high-energy systems, such as high-energy microwave and electromagnetic pulse.
“So, we are working on a number of technologies that will give us Star Wars capability. What you saw today was one of the components of the Star Wars technologies,” he said.
Kamat said Israel was also working on similar capabilities. “I would say we are the fourth or fifth country in the world to demonstrate this system,” he said.
The 30-kilowatt laser weapon system designed to take down aerial threats, such as swarm drones and helicopters, can likely take down missiles within a range of 5 km, too.
Interestingly, the DRDO showcased the capability in their tableau at the 2025 Republic Day parade.
Indigenously designed and developed Mk-II (A) DEW system was demonstrated in its entire spectrum of capability by engaging fixed-wing drones at long range, thwarting a multiple drone attack and destroying enemy surveillance sensors and antennae.
The lightning speed of engagement, the precision and the lethality when it came to the target, within just a few seconds, made it the most potent counter-drone system, DRDO officials said.
Once detected by radar or by its inbuilt Electro-Optic (EO) system, the laser-directed energy weapon (laser-DEW) can engage targets at the speed of light and use an intense beam of powerful light, a laser beam, to cut through the target, leading to structural failure or more impactful results, when targeting a warhead.
This type of cutting-edge weaponry has the potential to revolutionise the battlespace by reducing the reliance on expensive ammunition while also lowering the risk of collateral damage, officials explained.
“The DEW will soon replace traditional kinetic weapons and missile defence systems due to its ease of operation and cost-effectiveness. The requirement for cost-effective defence solutions to offset the low-cost drone attacks is driving the adoption of DEWs by military organisations worldwide. The cost of firing it for a few seconds is equivalent to what a couple of litres of petrol now costs. Therefore, it can be a long-term & low-cost alternative to defeat the target,” an official explained.
Last year, The War Zone reported that China seemed to have installed a laser-directed energy weapon on one of its Type 071 amphibious assault ships.
The US installed a similar system on board the San Antonio-class landing platform dock, USS Portland, in 2019 and successfully knocked down a drone in May 2020.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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