Indian Defense Forum 
- Jan 26, 2024
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- Axis Group
Indian Army uses new DRDO laser to neutralise Chinese drone near LoC
17h•4 min read
Indian Army uses new DRDO laser to neutralise Chinese drone near LoC
A Chinese-origin drone, reportedly operated by the Pakistan Army, was brought down near the Line of Control in Jammu by the Indian Army using an indigenous anti-drone system.
Defence sources confirmed that the drone was spotted near Indian territory in the 16 Corps area, south of the Pir Panjal ranges. Army Air Defence units responded quickly. The unmanned aerial vehicle was intercepted using the Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction System, designed and developed entirely in India.
The system, which can jam signals, spoof drone navigation, and destroy aerial targets, has been deployed in large numbers along the country’s borders. In this instance, it was decisive.
A homegrown solution to modern threats
The Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction System was built by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), India's top defence R&D agency.At its core is a 2-kilowatt laser beam that can shoot down drones from a range of 800 to 1,000 metres. It also supports other methods of disruption, making it adaptable to a wide range of threats.
Currently, it is used by the Indian Army and other security forces to counter increasing incursions by enemy drones along the LoC and international borders.
India’s new laser weapon system now combat-ready
While the anti-drone laser system is already in the field, DRDO has also unveiled a much larger breakthrough: a 30-kilowatt directed-energy weapon system that can neutralise fixed-wing aircraft, swarm drones, and even incoming missilesThis laser-based system has now entered the stage of production and deployment across military platforms, after successful trials. With this achievement, India joins a small club of nations — including the United States, China, and Russia — who possess such high-powered laser weapons.
Related video: India gets first laser-based weapon, can shoot down fixed-wing aircraft, missiles & swarm drones (The Economic Times)
India gets first laser-based weapon, can shoot down fixed-wing aircraft, missiles & swarm drones
Unmute
Dr Samir V Kamat, Chairman of DRDO, said, "This is just the beginning of the journey. The synergy that this lab has achieved with other DRDO labs, industry and academia, I am sure we will reach our destination soon... We are also working on other high energy systems like high energy microwaves, electromagnetic pulse. So we are working on a number of technologies that will give us Star Wars capability. What you saw today was one of the components of Star Wars technologies."
He added, "As far as I know, it is the United States, Russia and China that have demonstrated this capability. Israel is also working on similar capabilities, I would say we are the fourth or fifth country in the world to demonstrate this system."
Dr Jagannath Nayak, Director of the Centre for High Energy System, and Sciences (CHESS), DRDO says, "Whatever we have achieved today is a great success, and we have seen that we have neutralised fixed-wing aircraft at long range and then we have also seen that we have neutralised swarm drone... with the laser weapon, we can neutralise multiple targets. So, this is one of the new and emerging weapon systems. It is a massless weapon and the concentration of laser light falls on the target and neutralises it. So this is an achievement for our country and DRDO..."
Combat features and deployment
The 30-kilowatt system is built to take down aerial threats such as drones and helicopters within a 5-kilometre range. It integrates electronic warfare capabilities that can jam both communication and satellite signals, adding another layer of tactical edge.It can be mounted on ground-based units or adapted for use on naval platforms. The system includes a 360-degree Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensor, which allows precise targeting. It can also be rapidly deployed by air, rail, road, or sea — offering flexibility across terrains and operational theatres.
Next in line: The 300-kilowatt "Surya" laser
India's laser weapon journey doesn’t stop with 30 kilowatts. Work is underway on a more powerful 300-kilowatt system known as "Surya".Designed to counter high-speed aerial threats such as incoming missiles and unmanned aerial systems, this system is expected to have an effective range of up to 20 kilometres.
The development aligns with global trends where militaries are investing heavily in high-powered lasers to protect airspace and installations from fast-evolving drone warfare and precision missile systems.
Strategic significance
India's advancements in directed-energy weapons come at a time of heightened regional tensions and increasing drone activity along its borders. The use of a Chinese-origin drone by Pakistan highlights the growing complexity of cross-border surveillance and intrusion tactics.The successful use of DRDO’s anti-drone system and the unveiling of its advanced laser weaponry point to a shift in how India plans to secure its airspace—relying more on homegrown, high-tech systems to deal with emerging threats.
As defence officials monitor further drone movements, India’s new tools of deterrence are no longer just experimental. They're in the field—ready and in action.
For more news like this visit The Economic Times.
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