India joins elite club with successful test of laser-based directed energy weapon

India on Sunday successfully test-fired a laser-based weapon system capable of neutralising fixed-wing and swarm drones. With this achievement, India has now joined the list of select countries that have developed this cutting-edge technology. Apart from India, only the US, China and Russia are the countries that can neutralise weapons using this technology.

The first successful test of the Mk-II(A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) system was conducted at the National Open Air Range (NOAR) in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) told news agency ANI that this high-power laser-DEW is capable of destroying drones and small projectiles.

The Hyderabad-based DRDO's Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS) laboratory has developed the system in collaboration with several academic institutions and Indian industrial partners. DRDO Chairman Sameer V Kamat told ANI, "As far as I know, the US, Russia and China have demonstrated this capability. Israel is also working on such capabilities. So, I can say that India is the fourth or fifth country in the world to have successfully demonstrated such a system."

The laser-DEW technology is being compared to the Death Star-like capabilities shown in the popular movie 'Star Wars'. According to DRDO Chairman Kamat, more such high-end technologies are being developed for the Indian armed forces.

He said, "This is just the beginning of a long journey. With the synergy that the CHESS laboratory has built with other DRDO laboratories, industry and academia, I am confident that we will soon achieve our goal."

He further said, "We are also working on other high-energy systems like high-energy microwaves, electromagnetic pulses. We are developing many such technologies that will give us 'Star Wars' like capabilities in the future. Today's test was an important step in that direction."

The Mk-II(A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) system is considered to be one of the most powerful anti-drone systems in the world. Its specialty is that it attacks at the speed of light, is highly accurate and can disable the target in seconds. This system can target fixed-wing drones from a long distance and can foil multiple drone attacks simultaneously. It can also destroy their surveillance sensors and antennas.

When the target is identified by the radar of the DEW system or its inbuilt electro-optic (EO) system, it cuts the target using a powerful laser beam. This causes structural failure or other serious damage. With the help of this laser weapon, the need for expensive ammunition during conflict can be reduced, and unnecessary structural damage can also be avoided.

Soon, the DEW system can replace conventional kinetic weapons and missile defense systems due to its ease of operation and cost-efficiency. In today's war scenario where unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and drones are being used extensively, DEW is emerging as a long-term, effective and economical option.