India's first laser weapon hits aerial targets in trial

India demonstrated its first high energy laser-based weapon with a series of "kills" on fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles, swarm drones and fixed surveillance sensors at a specialised test range on Sunday, entering a select league of nations with such capabilities.

The successful trials of a high-powered directed energy weapon (DEW) system demonstrated India's capability to target drones, missiles and combat aircraft using advanced laser technology. The Defence Research and Development Organisation's Mk-II(A) laser-directed energy weapon generates a 30-kilowatt laser that can burn through enemy drones and can easily be used to blind surveillance equipment as well.

The system is expected to be offered for induction within the next two years, with DRDO likely to offer technology transfer to select industry players. While it is currently in a land-based configuration, DRDO plans satellite-based systems in the future, besides applications in the maritime domain.

"As far as I am aware, we are the fourth or fifth country (in the world) with such a capability," DRDO chief Samir V Kamat told ET after witnessing the tests.

The tests were carried out in a special hangar, with key team members present to monitor each aspect of the laser system.

ET witnessed the system first picking up and tracking swarm drone targets at a range of more than 3 kilometres, before locking in to them and firing a high-power laser beam, leading to complete destruction. A fixed-wing drone was targeted at an even greater range, with officials saying that combat aircraft can also be engaged with the system.

The DRDO chief said that as part of the next steps, India plans to "go up in power to get greater ranges and will modify it so that it can be mounted on airborne platforms, ships and eventually In satellites".

PRECISE AND LETHAL
The Mk-II(A) DEW system was demonstrated in its entire spectrum of capability by engaging the fixed-wing drones at long range, thwarting a multiple drone attack and destroying enemy surveillance sensors and antennae, officials said, adding that the lightning speed of engagement, the precision and the lethality delivered at the target within few seconds makes it a potent counter drone system.

Developed by DRDO's Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences, Hyderabad, the system consists of six high energy lasers of 5 KW each that converge into one beam that hits the target at 30 KW. In the past, a much smaller system - of 2 KW - has been deployed with the armed forces that can take on small drones at short range.