Table of Contents
Laser Defence Systems Approved for Army and IAF
What’s Being Inducted
- System Type: On, 16 November, 2025, India-made laser systems specially designed to stop and destroy enemy drones that may enter our airspace.
- Laser Power: Uses a strong 10-kW laser beam that can heat and damage a drone in just a few seconds.
- Effective Range: Can hit and disable small to medium drones from up to 2 km away, making it useful for early defence.
- Total Units: A total of 16 such systems have been cleared to be added to the forces for real operations.
- User Services: These systems will be used by both the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force for protecting bases and border areas.
- System Variant: The model being inducted is the improved DRDO Mk-II version, which performs better than earlier prototypes.
Provenance and Recent Tests
- DRDO Trials: DRDO carried out many trials over the past few years to check laser strength, accuracy, and stability.
- Field Demonstrations: Demonstrations showed that the system can destroy or disable drones in actual outdoor conditions.
- Range Testing: The laser was tested at different distances and worked effectively from around 1 km up to 2 km.
- Tech Evolution: This version is more advanced, with better sensors, stronger laser control, and faster target tracking than previous models.
- Operational Proof: Trials proved that the system can correctly track moving drones and hit them even when they fly fast or change direction.
How the System Works
- Threat Sensing: High-quality cameras, heat sensors, and radar work together to quickly spot any drone entering the protected zone.
- Target Tracking: Once detected, the system automatically locks onto the drone and keeps it in focus even if it moves around.
- Laser Firing: A steady, focused laser beam is fired at the drone to weaken and damage it without using bullets or missiles.
- Hard-Kill Mode: The laser heats the drone’s body, causing parts to melt or malfunction until the drone can no longer fly.
- Component Damage: The beam usually burns sensitive parts like the motor, battery, wings, or electronic circuits, making the drone fall.
- Integrated Package: All equipment—sensors, control computer, and laser—are placed together so the system works smoothly as one unit.
Operational Benefits
- Low Cost: Every laser shot costs almost nothing compared to firing missiles or special anti-drone ammunition.
- Instant Action: The laser travels at the speed of light, so the response time is extremely fast.
- Unlimited Ammo: As long as there is electricity, the system can keep firing without running out of ammunition.
- Homegrown Tech: Since it is made in India, it reduces the need to buy expensive foreign defence equipment.
- Scalable Defence: It can handle several drones one after another, making it useful during drone swarm attacks.
- Base Security: Ideal for protecting airports, military bases, and important buildings from surprise drone threats.
Limitations and Challenges
- Weather Limits: Fog, rain, dust, and smoke in the air can weaken the laser and reduce its accuracy or range.
- Power Demand: The system needs a reliable and strong power supply, which may be difficult in remote border areas.
- Cooling Needs: The laser gets hot after firing and needs a proper cooling system to keep working smoothly.
- Enemy Tactics: Enemies might use shiny coatings, heat-resistant parts, or multiple drones at once to confuse the system.
- Range Variance: The maximum range depends on how clear the air is, so performance changes with weather conditions.
- Safety Rules: Lasers must be used carefully so that they do not accidentally hit friendly aircraft or cause harm elsewhere.
Strategic Implications
- Defence Boost: This system makes India’s air defence stronger and more prepared for modern drone-based attacks.
- Strong Deterrence: It sends a message to other countries that India has advanced and modern military technology.
- Asset Protection: Important places like airbases, ammunition depots, and communication centres can be better protected.
- Regional Posture: Improves India’s position in the region by showing it can handle new threats better than before.
- Future Growth: Opens the path for even stronger laser weapons that could protect larger areas or stop faster targets.
- Industry Support: Encourages Indian defence companies to work on more advanced weapons and become more self-reliant.
Important Questions
- How many indigenous laser-based anti-drone systems are being inducted by the Indian Army and Indian Air Force?
- What is the maximum drone-neutralising range of the 10-kW laser in the DRDO Mk-II system?
- Which sensors are used by the DRDO laser system to detect and track incoming drones?
- What is the main operational advantage of using a laser beam instead of missiles or bullets in anti-drone defence?
- Which environmental factors can reduce the performance of the DRDO laser-based anti-drone system?
Conclusion
The induction of 16 indigenous laser-based drone defence systems marks an important step for India in modernising its security against rising drone threats. These systems offer fast, low-cost, and effective protection for important military areas, while also showing the growing strength of India’s own defence technology. Although factors like weather and high power needs remain challenges, the move clearly strengthens the country’s overall defence capabilities and prepares the Army and Air Force for future threats.
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