The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO)has announced the successful trial of a Mk-II(A) 30 kW Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) system on 13 April 2025 at the National Open-Air Range (NOAR), Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. The Mk-II (A) Laser weapon has demonstrated its precision to engage the target like fixed wing Drone, missiles, helicopters, swarm drones and smaller projectile at the long range that to at the speed of light making them disintegrated and dysfunctional by piercing the laser beam into target, leading to counter drone attack, and destroying enemy surveillance sensors and antennae. Till now, the armed forces and paramilitary forces have been using IDD&IS systems, with 2-kilowatt lasers on LOC to counter small drones within the range of merely 1 to 2 km.
The successful trial of Laser DEW is a testament of the capabilities of India to develop and operate DEW, the weapon system of the future, and space war, thereby to attain the elite position along with the US, Russia, and China to have the capabilities of developing and operational deployment of such advanced systems.
In addition to the US, Russia, China, and India, the militaries of prominent countries like France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Israel, and Pakistan are also developing DEW systems. Whereas countries like North Korea, Iran, and Turkey may have a DEW system in their setup.
The concept of Directed Energy Weapon (DEW)was conceived by the US during the regime of President Reagan as a strategic defence initiative (nicknamed the Star Wars Programme). DEW, a futuristic weaponry technology that can be independent of the environment, all weather, absolutely stealth, and should be able to function in space as a counter-defensive or assault system to ensure tactical and strategic superiority in space.
A directed-energy weapon (DEW) is a high-energy system those are based on the direct application of a focused hypersonic electromagnetic beam generated by Lasers, microwaves, particle beams, or ultrasonic sources. DEW identifies its target by radar or by its inbuilt Electro-Optic (EO) system. These ranged weapons are capable of destroying or making dysfunctional any given target by piercing and cut through the target, like personnel, vehicles, tanks, artillery missiles, ships, UAVs, Aircraft, satellites, or any kinetic or non-kinetic targets by the virtue of its property of highly focused intense beam of energy clubbed with hypersonic speed without a solid projectile as well as not influenced by the adverse impact of gravity or atmospheric conditions. Hence combination of speed and precision makes DEW a lethal and futuristic tool of military warfare. Over and above, the DEW systems are much more cost-effective compared to the conventional arsenal. 30 KW standard Laser weapon typically acts as a deterrent and destroyer of fixed-wing drones and other medium-sized static or kinetic targets. A 100-kilowatt laser weapon acts as a lethal weapon against UAVs and artillery, whereas a 300-kilowatt laser system is capable of destroying small aircraft, vehicles, and missiles. Laser weapons of one megawatt can effectively counter large missiles and hypersonic systems.
The US military has established itself as the most lethal and highly advanced force in developing and deploying Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) systems in operational roles. The US has already developed laser weapons with a power output of up to 300 kW and is now heading towards manufacturing DEW systems with a power output of 500 kW. Directed energy systems are in an active operational role in all the arms of US forces, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, as well as space and strategic forces.
The Valkyrie, the most advanced and lethal laser weapon of the US armed forces, has been developed by Lockheed Martin under the Army›s Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Energy Laser (IFPC-HEL). The Valkyrie, a 300-kW energy laser system mounted on a heavy tactical truck and acts as a counter-offensive mode against offensive unmanned aerial systems, munitions, as well as cruise missiles. The system is undergoing upgradation up to 500 kW. The laser system, ranging between 20 to 50 kW, has been deployed with its new Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) assault vehicles. The US forces are gearing up to deploy high-powered microwave (HPM) weapons in the desert. The HPM weapons are capable of countering entire swarms of drones. The other noted DEW systems operated by the US Navy are High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance System, or HELIOS, and AN/SEQ-3 Laser Weapon System (LaWS). These DEW systems can be deployed on ships, land vehicles, and aircraft.
Russia has acquired significant capabilities and competence to develop, manufacture, and deploy DEW systems. Russia has developed High-Energy Lasers (HELs) and High-Power Microwaves (HPMs) to counteract drones, missiles, and disrupt electronic and navigation systems. The “Peresvet” laser is highly effective in engaging drones as well as blind satellites up to 1,500 km above Earth. Zadira is another newly developed laser weapon based on the application of the wide electromagnetic band. Stupor is an HPM device that is capable of counteracting drone controls and cameras up to a range of two kilometers.
China has taken a very big leap in developing highly compact and powerful Laser weapons up to 100 KW energy and is heading towards deploying 300 KW laser weapons. China is all set to develop high precision capacities in anti-satellite warfare to counterattack rival countries’ satellites in orbit itself to make them disable or destroy.
China has also acquired the competency and infrastructure to develop high-power microwave (HPM) directed energy weapons. These weapons generate very high-intensity electromagnetic pulses up to one gigawatt and comparable to nuclear energy. Such weapons are capable of firing thousands of intense pulses within a couple of seconds. As per the assessment, China has already installed a DEW weapon system on one of its Type 071 amphibious assault ships, ground-based systems, and potentially even space-based platforms.
Pakistan is dependent on China and other countries to acquire directed energy weapon systems. Pakistan is far away from India in developing and manufacturing laser or microwave weapons. However, they have got capabilities to develop Drones and laser-guided missiles with the help of China.
With the present global scenario of the DEW system especially the Chinese aggressive approach to ensuring space superiority, restructuring its future space station into a Space military hub, and augmenting its counter-defence in space by incorporating DEW systems, India is bound to augment and upgrade the quality of Directed Energy weapons including developing, manufacturing and subsequent tactical deployment.
There is a strong need for India to focus on developing a Directionally Unrestricted Ray-Gun Array, a 100-kilowatt lightweight high-intensity laser system at par with available DEW with the US and China, so as to achieve proficiency to counteract drones, missiles, and artillery shells. The further upgradation to the range of 300 to 500 kW will facilitate an advanced platform in the future. In the same manner to counter the growing precision by China in the domain of high-power microwave (HPM), plasma, and simulating the developing artificial solar energy, India must take the project of developing linear electron accelerator technology. The linear electron accelerator technology, coupled with the Beam Directing System (BDS) of auto focusing of the high-power laser beam onto a distant moving target in the required operating range, is the future of DEW in the next two decades or so.
Maj. Gen. J.K.S. Parihar, Sena Medal, Bar to Vishisht Seva Medal (Retd.), Former Additional Director General, AFMS and Expert on Defence and International Strategic Affairs.
