 "India’s ‘Star Wars’ weapon! DRDO tests laser that melts aerial threats")
India’s Defence and Research Development Organisation (DRDO) on Sunday (April 13) conducted a successful trial of a system equipped with high-power Laser-DEW technology, used to shoot down missiles, drones, and smaller projectiles.
The trial was conducted at the National Open Air Range (NOAR) in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. The Mk-II (A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) system will eventually be upgraded and strengthened to increase its efficiency and capacity, said DRDO chief Samir V. Kamat while talking to news agency ANI.
What next?
According to the DRDO, the next mission for the organisation is to develop a miniaturised version of the laser weapon and fit in onto ships and airborne platforms.
“We are also looking at how we can miniaturise it to put it on airborne platforms and how we can put it on ships. It is a journey that has started today,” Kamat said.
He added that DRDO scientists were exploring building other high-energy systems as well, including high-energy microwave and electromagnetic pulse.
“So, we are working on a number of technologies that will give us Star Wars capability. What you saw today was one of the components of the Star Wars technologies,” he said.
‘Fourth nation to develop such system’
The successful test of the laser weapon has put India in the elite list of nations possessing this technology, including the US, China, and Russia.
Kamat said Israel could also be working on similar technology.
“I would say we are the fourth or fifth country in the world to demonstrate this system,” he said.
More about the system
DRDO officials described the laser system as a game-changer, thanks to its lightning-fast response, pinpoint precision, and lethal impact—taking down targets within seconds. Once a drone is spotted—either by radar or its built-in Electro-Optic system—the laser-directed energy weapon (laser-DEW) kicks in. It fires a focused laser beam at the speed of light, strong enough to slice through the drone’s structure or even trigger a warhead detonation.
It’s not just flashy tech—it could seriously shake up the battlefield. By ditching traditional (and costly) ammunition for lasers, it cuts down both on expenses and the risk of collateral damage.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“The DEW will soon replace traditional kinetic weapons and missile defence systems due to its ease of operation and cost-effectiveness. The requirement for cost-effective defence solutions to offset the low-cost drone attacks is driving the adoption of DEWs by military organisations worldwide. The cost of firing it for a few seconds is equivalent to what a couple of litres of petrol now costs. Therefore, it can be a long-term & low-cost alternative to defeat the target,” an official said.
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