India Enters the Laser Weapon Era: DRDO Successfully Tests Indigenous Anti-Drone Laser System
India has officially stepped into the future of warfare. On Sunday, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested
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Prativad.com | April 14, 2025
India has officially stepped into the future of warfare. On Sunday, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested the country’s first indigenously developed Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW), Mk-II(A), at the National Open Air Range (NOAR) in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.
Developed by the Hyderabad-based Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS) in collaboration with other DRDO labs, academic institutions, and Indian industries, this cutting-edge system showcases India’s capability in advanced defence technology.
What is the Laser-DEW Mk-II(A)?
This advanced weapon system:
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Uses a 30-kilowatt high-energy laser beam to neutralize aerial threats within seconds
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Can destroy fixed-wing drones, swarm drones, surveillance sensors, and antennas with exceptional speed and precision
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Features 360-degree Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensors for accurate threat detection and targeting
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Has a range of 5 km (3.1 miles) and is equipped with electronic warfare capabilities, including communication and satellite signal jamming
According to DRDO, its "lightning-fast speed and pinpoint accuracy" make it India’s most powerful counter-drone system to date.
India Joins the Elite League
With this successful trial, India joins a select group of nations—including the USA, Russia, and China—that possess high-energy laser weapon systems. DRDO chief Dr. Samir V. Kamat told ANI, “This is just the beginning. Our next goal is to develop ‘Star Wars’-level capabilities.”
Israel is also reportedly working on similar laser technologies.
What’s Next? ‘Surya’ – The Super Laser
DRDO is now developing a more advanced system, codenamed ‘Surya’, which will feature:
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300 kilowatts of power output
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An operational range of up to 20 kilometers
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Designed to counter high-speed threats like missiles and unmanned aerial systems (UAS)
This next-generation weapon could place India at the forefront of directed energy warfare.
Defence Minister’s Perspective
Recently, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted the rising threat of drones, stating, “In the Ukraine-Russia conflict, drones have emerged as the most transformative weapon on the battlefield—more than tanks or artillery.”
He added that the growing role of low Earth orbit (LEO) technologies is reshaping warfare through military intelligence, surveillance, positioning, targeting, and communication.
The Takeaway
India’s first anti-drone laser weapon is not just a breakthrough in self-reliant defence technology, but a bold leap into the age of cyber-physical warfare.
With eyes on the sky and lasers on target, India's defence is now future-ready.
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Report: Digital Desk, Prativad
