DRDO Plans Industry Partnership
DRDO Advances 30kW Laser Weapon Towards Production: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is preparing to move its 30kW-class Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) closer to production. It plans to issue an Expression of Interest (EOI) within the next six months to identify an industrial partner for developing the system’s First-of-Production Model (FOPM).
The laser-based system is mounted on a truck chassis and has been designed primarily for countering aerial threats such as drone swarms, fixed-wing UAVs and surveillance sensors. The system is reported to have an engagement range of up to 5 km.
Dr BK Das, Director General of Electronics & Communication Systems at DRDO, stated that the industrial-partner selection process would begin within six months.
Static GK fact: DRDO functions under the Ministry of Defence and is India’s principal organisation for research and development of defence technologies.
30kW DEW Reaches Advanced Stage
The final trial of the 30kW-class DEW was conducted in August 2025. DRDO has demonstrated the technology, but additional development is required before the system reaches the FOPM stage.
The 30kW system currently represents the most powerful DEW developed by DRDO. Its development forms part of India’s broader effort to build indigenous directed-energy capabilities for modern air defence.
Unlike conventional weapons that use missiles or projectiles, a laser DEW uses a concentrated beam of energy to engage a target. This makes the technology particularly relevant against relatively low-cost aerial threats such as drones.
Importance of Counter-Drone Technology
The growing use of drones has increased the requirement for systems capable of dealing with multiple low-cost aerial targets. Drone swarms can potentially overwhelm conventional air-defence systems by presenting several targets simultaneously.
The experience of Operation Sindoor in May 2025 further highlighted the operational importance of counter-drone capabilities. Low-cost drones can be used for surveillance, probing air-defence networks and other battlefield functions.
Directed-energy systems offer an alternative response because they do not require conventional missile or projectile ammunition for every engagement.
Static GK Tip: DEWs broadly include high-energy lasers and high-power microwave systems, although their capabilities and applications differ.
How Directed Energy Weapons Work
A laser-based DEW generates and directs concentrated electromagnetic energy towards a target. The energy can damage critical components, including propulsion systems, sensors and electronic systems, depending on the weapon’s power and engagement conditions.
One major characteristic of a laser is that the beam travels at approximately the speed of light. Therefore, unlike conventional projectiles or missiles, there is effectively no comparable projectile flight-time problem.
However, operational effectiveness can still depend on factors such as atmospheric conditions, power availability, beam control and accurate target tracking.
DRDO’s 2kW and 10kW Systems
The 30kW system is part of a wider DRDO programme covering different levels of directed-energy capability.
DRDO’s 2kW DEW is already moving into production with industry participation involving Adani, Astra and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
The 10kW DEW has progressed through the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) stage, with around 10–12 systems ordered for procurement. Larsen & Toubro and BEL have been selected as Development-cum-Production Partners for the system, which has an engagement range of approximately 1.5–2 km.
OODA Loop in Air Defence
Directed-energy systems are intended to operate within the OODA loop—Observe, Orient, Decide and Act.
Modern air-defence networks first detect potential threats through technologies such as radar, electro-optical systems, infrared sensors, electromagnetic-spectrum monitoring and acoustic detection. The collected information is then analysed to identify the target and determine an appropriate response.
Reducing the time required to complete this cycle is crucial when dealing with fast-moving or multiple aerial threats.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
DRDO Advances 30kW Laser Weapon Towards Production:
| Fact | Detail |
| Organisation | Defence Research and Development Organisation |
| Weapon | 30kW-class Directed Energy Weapon |
| Technology | High-energy laser |
| Platform | Truck-mounted system |
| Intended targets | Drone swarms, UAVs and surveillance sensors |
| Reported range | Up to 5 km |
| Final trial | August 2025 |
| Next step | Expression of Interest for industrial partner |
| Production stage | First-of-Production Model |
| 2kW DEW | Production involving Adani, Astra and BEL |
| 10kW DEW | AoN completed; around 10–12 units ordered |
| 10kW range | Approximately 1.5–2 km |
| OODA | Observe, Orient, Decide and Act |
| Major DEW types | High-energy lasers and high-power microwaves |
