DRDO Prioritizes High-Power Directed-Energy Weapon Development

India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is aggressively pursuing the development of high-powered directed-energy weapons (DEWs).

The organization has formulated a detailed roadmap outlining short, medium, and long-term objectives aimed at harnessing the potential of this disruptive military technology.

Significant Power Increase​

In the near term, DRDO is concentrating on creating DEWs with dramatically increased power outputs, aiming for the 30-50 kilowatt range. This represents a major leap forward, signaling the intent to develop DEWs potent enough to neutralize a broader spectrum of threats.

Ambitious Targets​

DRDO aims to achieve this goal within the next three to five years. The envisioned DEWs will have operational ranges extending tens of kilometers, providing a substantial boost to defensive capabilities.

Building on Success​

This push for higher-powered DEWs builds upon DRDO's success in developing anti-drone laser systems.

These systems, with power outputs between 2 and 10 kilowatts, have effectively countered drone threats. Their effectiveness has earned them a substantial order from the Indian Armed Forces, with 23 systems valued at approximately Rs 400 crore.

Advantages of DEWs​

Directed-energy weapons hold multiple advantages over traditional weaponry.

They boast lower ammunition costs, virtually instantaneous target engagement, and the ability to neutralize multiple targets concurrently.

As DEW technology continues to advance, it is expected to play an increasingly pivotal role on the modern battlefield.

 

[bonito]

Germany has container sized gas turbine power plants up to 1000kw. We need to invest more for alternate power plants to circumvent gas feed problems and size constraints.

 

[k2b2]

DEWs ko hum defence shield ke pahle step mai use karna suru karna chahiye..bhale hi vo ek fix station hi kyu na bane. agar hum usmai safal hote hai to bharat k pure sea border par hum istemaal kar sakte hai ..energy to fix station hone se milna sambhav ho skta hai.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

DEWs ko hum defence shield ke pahle step mai use karna suru karna chahiye..bhale hi vo ek fix station hi kyu na bane. agar hum usmai safal hote hai to bharat k pure sea border par hum istemaal kar sakte hai ..energy to fix station hone se milna sambhav ho skta hai.

DEWs have a drawback of having short range. Covering the sea border of india will require tens of thousands of these systems, even USA or china cant produce so many of them

 

[ABHIJIT APSINGIKAR]

Another one of DRDO fantasy projects. As per their own assessment, it would take India at least 3 decades to develop a functional prototype of a weapon-grade DEW system and that was way back in 201-15. And we are discussing a project that's at least 15-20 years away if not more.

 

[Siddharth Asthana]

The day DRDO rolls out what is shown in the image, will be a day my grandosn will say we are in a developed country

 

[Biju UK]

Another of those smoke induced day dreams. What are these guys smoking??

 

[Sandeep]

Another of those smoke induced day dreams. What are these guys smoking??

India has already shown it's technology and capabilities but these take time and to develop a full proof air defence system instead of the current SAM will need to be battle tested to make sure it can destroy a nuclear ballistic missile fired at us. We are making progress but there is no urgent rush to develop this.

 

[Sandeep]

We are making progress by developing a much more powerful laser shield but it's unclear as to the exact range it can cover, how powerful the laser is and the amount of time it takes to destroy a incoming jet, drones of missiles. Before replacing our existing SAM defence shields we need to make sure that we develop a reliable, efficient, easy to operate and the amount of energy required to use the laser is guaranteed. A key area we need to develop is vehicle mounted lasers which can be used anywhere for further air defence cover it needs to provide where they might not have it or for further reinforcements.

 

[kumar]

DRDO is on right track. We have people here who doesnt understand head or tail of DEW commenting on DRDO. As the technology matures, we shall have more powerfull DEW weapons and additional orders over and above the present 23.

 

[ABHIJIT APSINGIKAR]

DEWs have a drawback of having short range. Covering the sea border of india will require tens of thousands of these systems, even USA or china cant produce so many of them

Not quite! the problem is laser is a light-based system is susceptible to diffusion and diffraction. It is possible to create a long-range LASER weapon but the power it would take is astronomical. The range a DEW laser can fire is directly proportional to the wattage of power. U would need a full-scale MW class or at least a few thousand KW power source to make a weapon capable of taking out missiles at long range. Even the USN which was testing out laser based CIWS system found that the system would be too bulky so as to generate enough power to shoot down incoming missiles with a laser-based system. Now even USN is deploying laser dazzlers to confound the targeting system of incoming missiles.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Not quite! the problem is laser is a light-based system is susceptible to diffusion and diffraction. It is possible to create a long-range LASER weapon but the power it would take is astronomical. The range a DEW laser can fire is directly proportional to the wattage of power. U would need a full-scale MW class or at least a few thousand KW power source to make a weapon capable of taking out missiles at long range. Even the USN which was testing out laser based CIWS system found that the system would be too bulky so as to generate enough power to shoot down incoming missiles with a laser-based system. Now even USN is deploying laser dazzlers to confound the targeting system of incoming missiles.

You are right on all accounts, that is why I said that they have drawback of short range. Current tech, does not make it feasible for battlefield use. In recent houthi attacks, USN has been using good old SAMs and CIWS systems, along with fighter jets to take out drones and missiles. Depending on lasers would be too risky aright now IMO, that is why they are not doing it. It still needs to be rigorously tested.

 

[Sami Smith]

Does miniature atomic reactors capable of producing such huge energy required for lasers?

 

[Saptarshi Ray]

We are making progress by developing a much more powerful laser shield but it's unclear as to the exact range it can cover, how powerful the laser is and the amount of time it takes to destroy a incoming jet, drones of missiles. Before replacing our existing SAM defence shields we need to make sure that we develop a reliable, efficient, easy to operate and the amount of energy required to use the laser is guaranteed. A key area we need to develop is vehicle mounted lasers which can be used anywhere for further air defence cover it needs to provide where they might not have it or for further reinforcements.

I don't think it replaces SAM defence shields, but it adds to the shields.

 

[Sandeep]

I don't think it replaces SAM defence shields, but it adds to the shields.

They are being developed to one day replace SAM shields but it will still take a long time before it can.

 

[Pad UwU]

MBDA UK Dragon Fire 50kw laser is already tested and being refine and need to upgrade it into 100~150kw laser beam... We need to collab to foreign partners to standardize parts of anything we can develop in DEW technology, so we can build and supply cheap parts to deploy it in our ships and frontier

 

[Strongman]

India has already shown it's technology and capabilities but these take time and to develop a full proof air defence system instead of the current SAM will need to be battle tested to make sure it can destroy a nuclear ballistic missile fired at us. We are making progress but there is no urgent rush to develop this.

exactly the problem..."NO RUSH", DRDO's no rush attitude is the reason india is lagging behind and always playing catch up. India need to get ahead........and also, Media should stop comparing India with Pakistan and or other countries like them, Direct threat is from China, not even US is taking Chinese threat easy.

 

[Sandeep]

exactly the problem..."NO RUSH", DRDO's no rush attitude is the reason india is lagging behind and always playing catch up. India need to get ahead........and also, Media should stop comparing India with Pakistan and or other countries like them, Direct threat is from China, not even US is taking Chinese threat easy.

India has developed a number of different types of laser with different strengths already but they need to work on it much more to make sure it’s completely reliable, efficient, cost effective and they can provide the necessary amount of power as it needs a huge amount of power. On the field we can’t be sure we can provide it on the frontline to start replacing our SAM defence shield so soon. That’s why we shouldn’t rush to start replacing our air defence missile shield.