Lightweight directed energy weapon tested by DRDO
In 2017, the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) had tested a 1 KW truck-mounted laser weapon at a test facility in Chitradurga in the presence of the then defence minister Arun Jaitley. This testing was a part of weapon project called DURGA or the Directionally Unrestricted Ray-Gun Array. The range achieved had been just 250 metres but a beginning was made.
After five years, In 2022, the DRDO carried out another test, this time a 100-kilowatt lightweight directed-energy weapon (DEW). The DEW is based on lasers, microwaves, or particle beams that transmit lethal force at the speed of light. The Laser Science and Technology Centre (LASTEC) in Delhi is the lead laboratory for developing laser weapons.
The Indian Army is expected to receive this 100-kilowatt lightweight DEW quite soon. Scientists, say that this weapon system is set to be integrated with various sea, air and land-based platforms.
The DEW operates using laser, microwave, or particle beams. The weapon is planned to be cost-effective and innovative. DEW uses focused energy to destroy or damage targets.
They have several advantages over conventional munitions, including speed and will prove to be a game-changer in the military domain. The range of the Indian DEW gun, as claimed by a Scientist who Saud “the centre has to this point made a 25-kilowatt laser that can target a ballistic missile during its terminal phase at a maximum distance of 5 kilometres.”
The Ballistic Missile Defence system cannot guarantee the destruction of each and every missile directed at Indian metros. However the DEW laser weapon can also annihilate the enemy missiles radar and electronic warfare systems, which will render all enemy missile systems useless.
Such high-power laser weapons are not easy to develop as here has to be availability of a significant power source. High consumption of power also leads to substantial heating thus arises need of a very efficient cooling system. All this affects the overall size and weight of the weapon system.
