NEW DELHI, Oct 2026 : India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is advancing research into directed-energy weapons (DEWs), an emerging defence technology that could transform air defence by enabling the military to counter drones, missiles and other aerial threats using high-energy lasers and high-power microwave systems.
The programme reflects India's growing focus on indigenous defence technology, precision engagement and next-generation military preparedness. Directed-energy weapons could complement conventional air defence systems by offering rapid target engagement and, under suitable operating conditions, lower costs per engagement than traditional missile interceptors.
In April 2025, the DRDO demonstrated a 30-kilowatt-class Mk-II(A) laser-based directed-energy system at Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh. The system reportedly engaged drone targets and demonstrated its ability to disable surveillance sensors, marking progress in India's efforts to develop laser-based counter-drone capabilities.
The programme is now moving towards more complex applications, including airborne laser weapons. According to the procurement information cited in reports on the programme, the DRDO issued a tender on October 5 for two gimballed pod units intended for an airborne laser directed-energy weapon. A separate procurement initiative seeks an airborne battery system to supply power to high-energy laser equipment.
These developments point to efforts to overcome the technical challenges involved in operating powerful laser weapons from moving aircraft.
How Directed-Energy Weapons Work
Directed-energy weapons use concentrated electromagnetic energy rather than conventional ammunition to damage or disable targets. They are broadly divided into two categories: high-energy laser systems and high-power microwave weapons.
High-energy lasers focus an intense beam of light on a specific point on a target. The concentrated energy heats the material, potentially damaging its structure, burning through components or disabling sensitive equipment. Against a drone, a laser could damage its sensors, control systems, propulsion components or airframe, depending on the beam's power, exposure time and the target's construction.
Professor Haribu Shrivasta, a former DRDO Director-General and former director of the Aeronautical Development Establishment, explained that a laser's impact depends on the energy deposited on the target and the duration of exposure.
When the beam heats a material sufficiently, it can weaken joints, deform components or cause burning. Damage to a drone's wing or other critical structural components could compromise its aerodynamic stability and cause it to lose control.
High-power microwave systems operate differently. They direct powerful electromagnetic energy towards electronic components, potentially disrupting or damaging the circuitry used by drones and other electronic systems.
This capability could prove particularly useful against groups of unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly known as drone swarms, where multiple threats may approach a protected site simultaneously.
DRDO Explores Airborne Laser Technology
Integrating directed-energy weapons into aircraft presents a significant engineering challenge. Unlike ground-based systems, airborne platforms are constantly moving and experience vibration, changes in orientation and atmospheric disturbances.
A gimballed pod is designed to help maintain the laser's orientation independently of the aircraft's movements. Advanced stabilisation and tracking systems are needed to keep the beam focused on a moving target while compensating for vibration and changes in the aircraft's position.
Atmospheric conditions create additional difficulties. Changes in temperature and air density can affect how a laser beam travels through the atmosphere. Dust, smoke and turbulence can scatter or distort the beam, reducing its effectiveness.
The airborne battery system is another important component. High-energy lasers require substantial electrical power, making energy generation, storage, thermal management and integration with an aircraft's existing systems essential considerations.
The DRDO's procurement initiatives indicate that these supporting technologies are receiving attention as India explores the transition from ground-based demonstrations towards more demanding airborne applications. However, procurement activity alone does not establish that an operational airborne laser weapon has been completed or inducted into service.
Advantages and Limitations of Laser Weapons
One of the principal advantages of directed-energy weapons is their speed of engagement. A laser beam travels at the speed of light, allowing energy to reach a target almost instantaneously once the system has acquired and tracked it.
Laser systems may also offer a lower cost per engagement because they use electrical energy rather than requiring a separate missile for every target. Their actual operating costs, however, also depend on equipment maintenance, power generation, cooling and other support requirements.
The power of the laser is crucial to its operational effectiveness. While a 30-kilowatt-class system can address certain drone threats under favourable conditions, higher power levels — potentially in the range of 100 to 300 kilowatts — may be needed for more demanding targets, longer engagement distances or shorter exposure times. The requirements vary according to target characteristics and operating conditions.
Weather remains a major limitation. Dust storms, smoke, clouds and other atmospheric obstructions can reduce laser performance. A laser weapon that works effectively in clear conditions may be less effective when visibility deteriorates.
High-power microwave systems could complement lasers by targeting electronic systems rather than relying exclusively on concentrated heat. Using both technologies could provide military planners with more options for countering different kinds of aerial threats.
Global Shift Towards Directed-Energy Defence
Major military powers are increasingly exploring directed-energy weapons as an addition to conventional air defence. The growing use of inexpensive drones in modern conflicts has highlighted the economic challenge of intercepting low-cost aerial threats with expensive missiles.
Laser weapons could help address this imbalance in suitable circumstances, while microwave systems could offer an alternative against electronic targets and multiple drones. Nevertheless, both technologies require extensive testing, reliable power supplies and integration with existing detection and tracking networks before they can be deployed effectively at scale.
For India, the development of indigenous directed-energy systems aligns with the broader objective of modernising the armed forces and strengthening domestic defence manufacturing and research capabilities.
The DRDO's work on ground-based laser systems, airborne gimballed pods and specialised power supplies represents progress towards a more diverse air defence architecture. The next major challenge will be converting successful demonstrations and developmental technologies into reliable systems capable of sustained operation in real-world conditions.
As drone warfare and aerial threats continue to evolve, directed-energy weapons could become an important component of India's future military capabilities, working alongside conventional missiles, guns, electronic warfare and other air defence technologies rather than replacing them entirely.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
