Tech Desk: India is set to significantly bolster its air defense capabilities with DRDO’s first production-model 30 kW directed-energy weapon (DEW), expected within a year. This advanced system is a critical component of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Sudarshan Chakra’ program, designed to effectively counter the growing threat of swarm drones and UAVs.

The truck-mounted DEW employs electromagnetic energy to neutralize targets through both soft kill (disabling) and hard kill (destroying) mechanisms. Following successful technology trials, DRDO will soon issue an expression of interest to select a production partner, aiming for rapid integration of this potent high-energy laser beam system into the nation’s defense framework.

This development places India among an elite group of nations, including the US, China, and Russia, that possess such non-kinetic capabilities. The 30 kW system represents a major leap from previous versions, which include a 2 kW DEW deployed along the Line of Control and a 10 kW system for which 10-12 units have already received Acceptance of Necessity.

BK Das, Director General of DRDO Electronics and Communication Systems, highlighted the swift transition from concept to deployment and emphasized the crucial role of private industry, MSMEs, and startups in this initiative. This enhanced DEW will form a vital part of India’s multi-layered defense architecture, providing a decisive edge against evolving asymmetric aerial threats on the modern battlefield.