New Delhi: India is moving towards mass production of an indigenous 30-kilowatt laser-based Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) designed to counter drone swarms and other unmanned aerial threats, in a major step towards strengthening the country’s indigenous counter-drone capability.
Industry Partner to Be Selected
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is preparing to select an Indian industry partner for manufacturing the system. An Expression of Interest (EoI) is expected in the coming months, while the First-of-Production Model (FOPM) is targeted within about a year.
The truck-mounted laser weapon is designed to engage drone swarms, fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and surveillance sensors at ranges of up to 5 km.
𝐀𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐫𝐛𝐡𝐚𝐫 𝐁𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲! 🚀
DRDO’s 30 kW truck-mounted Directed Energy Weapon has cleared trials and is moving towards mass production. Designed to neutralise drone swarms,… pic.twitter.com/wFbDqyyw2e
— BJP (@BJP4India) September 23, 2026
Designed to Counter Drone Swarms
The system uses concentrated laser energy to damage or disable aerial targets and their critical components. Its development is particularly significant as drone swarms can involve multiple low-cost unmanned platforms operating simultaneously.
Unlike conventional missile-based air defence, a directed-energy system can engage selected targets using energy rather than a separate physical interceptor for each engagement.
Capability Demonstrated in IADWS Trials
The move towards production follows successful demonstrations of India’s directed-energy technology. On August 23, 2025, DRDO conducted maiden flight tests of the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) off the Odisha coast.
According to the Ministry of Defence, IADWS integrates the Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM), Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) and a high-power laser-based DEW under a centralised command-and-control system.
During the trials, two high-speed fixed-wing UAVs and one multi-copter drone were simultaneously engaged by the integrated system.
Part of Wider Directed-Energy Programme
The 30-kW laser system is being developed by DRDO’s Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS). The programme forms part of India’s wider effort to develop indigenous directed-energy technologies for future air-defence requirements.
DRDO is also pursuing high-power microwave weapons aimed at countering unmanned aerial systems, alongside conventional missiles, guns and electronic-warfare systems.
From Trials to Production
The transition to production will require the demonstrated technology to be converted into a repeatable industrial system, followed by further testing and validation against operational requirements.
The proposed industry partnership is therefore an important step, but the 30-kW laser weapon should not yet be described as being in mass production. The current phase is focused on establishing the production pathway and developing the first production model.
If the planned milestones are achieved, the system could eventually provide the Indian armed forces with another layer of indigenous protection against drone swarms and other aerial threats.
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