The new weapon used to shoot drones using laser beams has been tested, and this is the first of its kind innovation by the country. Made indigenously by the DRDO, the weapon first dragged the drone, shot the beam and destroyed it with speed. The successful test of this technology is crucial for the country, as the use of drones in warfare has been increasing, as seen in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
In a post shared by the organisation on X, it informed the country about the successful mission. The test also adds the name of the country to the list of selected countries where the laser-DEW technology is used. In an interview with the Indian news agency NDTV, Samir V Kamat, the chairman of DRDO, 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”.
He also informed the nation that this was the start of a journey of innovative systems that would give India the capability to indulge in a “Star Wars” like situation. In the last few years, DRDO has launched many successful weapons to boost the defence capabilities of the country, which is important as India is situated between two hostile neighbours possessing nuclear capabilities.
The Mk-II(A) DEW system has been tested for all its capabilities, from fixed-wing drones to long-range, depicting the power to destroy enemy drones and antennas. Its precision and speed make the system one of the most advanced and precise anti-drone systems in the world. The Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences, under DRDO at its Hyderabad facility, made the system in collaboration with LRDE, IRDE, DLRL, academic institutions and Indian industries.
The future of warfare is driven by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles(UAS), making it important to develop precision and guided weapons. This will not only increase India’s capabilities but also reduce the costs by reducing the need to rely on heavy weapons.
