In a major technological breakthrough, India has joined a select league of nations capable of deploying high-energy laser weapons to neutralise drones and other aerial threats. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully demonstrated its indigenously developed Mk-II(A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) system at the National Open Air Range (NOAR) in Kurnool.
According to DRDO officials quoted by news agency ANI, the system—powered by a 30-kilowatt laser beam—can engage and destroy fixed-wing drones, swarm drones, surveillance sensors, and antennae with lightning speed and precision. The successful trial marks India’s entry into an exclusive group of countries, including the United States, Russia, and China, that have developed similar high-energy laser capabilities.
CHESS DRDO conducted a successful field demonstration of the Land version of Vehicle mounted Laser Directed Weapon(DEW) MK-II(A) at Kurnool today. It defeated the fixed wing UAV and Swarm Drones successfully causing structural damage and disable the surveillance sensors. With… pic.twitter.com/U1jaIurZco
— DRDO (@DRDO_India) April 13, 2025
DRDO Calls Mk-II(A) ‘Beginning of Star Wars Journey’
Speaking to ANI, DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V Kamat said, “As far as I know, it is the United States, Russia and China that have demonstrated this capability. Israel is also working on similar capabilities. I would say we are the fourth or fifth country in the world to demonstrate this system.”
Dr Kamat added that the current achievement is only the beginning of a broader mission. “This is just the beginning of the journey. The synergy that this lab has achieved with other DRDO labs, industry and academia, I am sure we will reach our destination soon… We are also working on other high energy systems like high energy microwaves, 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 Star Wars technologies,” he remarked.
#WATCH | Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh: DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V Kamat says, “…This is just the beginning of the journey. The synergy that this lab has achieved with other DRDO labs, industry and academia, I am sure we will reach our destination soon… We are also working on other… https://t.co/toO7xuAo9K pic.twitter.com/VjC9tS6WGF
— ANI (@ANI) April 13, 2025
Developed by DRDO’s Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS) in Hyderabad, along with LRDE, IRDE, DLRL, academic institutions and Indian industries, the Mk-II(A) DEW system features a 360-degree Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensor for precise targeting. It is capable of neutralising aerial threats within a 5-kilometre range and includes advanced electronic warfare capabilities, such as communication and satellite signal jamming.
Highlighting the cost-effectiveness of the weapon, officials noted that operating the system for a few seconds costs as little as a couple of litres of petrol. The system’s adaptability for ground-based and shipborne platforms adds to its strategic significance, offering rapid deployment via air, rail, road or sea.
Dr BK Das, Director General (Electronics & Communication System), DRDO, described the demonstration as a landmark moment. “For the first time, we are showing a technology in use and its devastation. This shows how far we are going in our technology maturity… What you saw is a completely indigenous product of many DRDO laboratories working in synergy with startups, academic institutions and industries. We are confident that we are going to reach high power very soon… We are planning to deploy similar systems with slight modifications on ships to prove the capability,” he said.
#WATCH | Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh: Dr BK Das, Director General (Electronics & Communication System) DRDO, says, “For the first time, we are showing a technology in use and its devastation. This shows how far we are going in our technology maturity… What you saw is a completely… https://t.co/toO7xuAo9K pic.twitter.com/TfD7LPMQFg
— ANI (@ANI) April 13, 2025
Dr Jagannath Nayak, Director of CHESS, added: “Whatever we have achieved today is a great success, and we have seen that we have neutralised fixed-wing aircraft at long range and then we have also seen that we have neutralised swarm drone… with the laser weapon, we can neutralise multiple targets. So, this is one of the new and emerging weapon systems. It is a massless weapon and the concentration of laser light falls on the target and neutralises it. So this is an achievement for our country and DRDO.”
#WATCH | Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh: Dr Jagannath Nayak, Director of the Centre for High Energy System, and Sciences (CHESS), DRDO says, “Whatever we have achieved today is a great success, and we have seen that we have neutralised fixed-wing aircraft at long range and then we have… https://t.co/toO7xuAo9K pic.twitter.com/dbOjFrweoW
— ANI (@ANI) April 13, 2025
DRDO’s 300-Kilowatt Laser System ‘Surya’
Looking ahead, DRDO is also working on a more powerful 300-kilowatt laser system, named ‘Surya’, which will have an operational range of 20 kilometres. This next-generation weapon is being designed to counter high-speed aerial threats, including missiles and unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
The demonstration was attended by senior DRDO officials, including the Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO, who lauded the team’s achievement and noted that the induction of the DEW Mk-II(A) would significantly bolster the country’s layered air defence capabilities.
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