DRDO ,A few months ago, we saw that India’s DRDO developed a laser weapon called DURGA 2. We even made a video about it. If you haven’t seen it, you should check it out.
Today, there’s new news from DRDO. They announced they have created a ship-based laser weapon system. This means the laser can be fired from a ship. This laser can target things like helicopters approaching from the front.You can use a laser to destroy anything coming towards you, like a helicopter, missile, or drone.
This is a big development for India because it is the country’s first ship-based laser weapon made by DRDO. Geopolitically, it’s also significant because only two other countries have openly claimed to have ship-based laser weapon systems. One is the United States, which has the Helios laser weapon system. The other is the UK, which unveiled its Dragon Fire system just two months ago.
Chain says that they have weapons and have tested them, but it’s unclear if they have mass-produced or deployed them. Russia hasn’t made much progress with laser weapons either. Only the USA and the UK are actively working on these weapons. Now, India has also developed similar laser weapons. Just two months ago, we saw that DRDO created similar laser weapons for the Indian Army.
These weapons have been deployed near the China border. They are called Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction Systems.
Let’s talk about these laser weapons. What is their power? What is their range? And most importantly, why is India progressing and aggressively developing these laser weapon systems?
DRDO Laser Weapon System Ready :
A year ago, DRDO announced a project to create a ship-based laser weapon system. The Ministry of Defence, Government of India, launched this tender. They aimed to develop a 30-kilowatt ship-borne laser weapon system for defense purposes. Now, this weapon system has been successfully prepared.
The DRDO in India has announced that they have completed trials of a 30 kilowatt laser weapon system. This marks a big step forward in their laser weapon technology. They also mentioned that this high-powered system is ready for mass production and user trials.
DRDO has two main laboratories working on laser weapon systems. One is called the Center for High Energy Systems and Sciences, and the other is called the Laser Science and Technology Center. Both labs are currently developing these laser weapons.
One type of laser weapon they are working on is called Ship Born Laser Weapon Systems (SLWS). This system is very lightweight, weighing less than 8 tons. DRDO believes this is a very good feature.Currently, this weapon’s range is not very long because its power is 30 KW. So, its range is about 5 KM. This means if there is a drone or any aerial threat within 5 KM, this weapon can address it.
About this Ship Based DEW :
If we talk about the range of this weapon, it is not very far because its power is only 30 KW. So, the range you get is just up to 5 KM. This means if there is a helicopter or a drone coming towards you within 5 KM, you can destroy that aerial threat using this laser weapon. It’s important to note that it specifically mentions helicopters or drones. So, if a fighter jet comes from the front, this laser weapon might not work in that case.
DRDO has said that the laser weapon they made can cover 360 degrees. This means it can rotate on your fighter jet or ship and destroy any aerial threat, like a helicopter or drone, coming from any direction.
At the same time, DRDO mentioned they are working on a more powerful laser weapon. This new weapon will have a range and power of 300 kilowatts. It will be able to take out threats from at least 20 kilometers away.
The laser weapon can handle subsonic cruise missiles or other projectiles. However, DRDO says the problem is that once you fire a laser weapon, it doesn’t cool down quickly. This makes it hard to build larger and more powerful laser weapons. If we overcome this challenge, we can create even more powerful laser weapons without any issues.
Laser Weapons : Future Of Warfare :
Why is DRDO or India working so aggressively on laser weapons? The reason is simple. Countries around the world are working on this technology. The US, with its powerful Navy spread across the globe, has developed a laser weapon system called HELIOS. The US claims that HELIOS has a power of over 60 kilowatts. Additionally, the well-known company Lockheed Martin is also working on developing a 300-kilowatt laser.
Imagine a problem or a threat is coming towards you. If you use a laser to deal with it, it’s almost certain you’ll eliminate the threat. This is because lasers are very precise.
Using a missile might not be 100% effective. Lasers are also much cheaper compared to traditional missiles. Different numbers show this. For example, firing a laser weapon may only cost three to five dollars, while using other methods can be much more expensive.
If you try to shoot down a helicopter or aircraft with a missile, it can cost around $50,000 or even $100,000 to make that missile. So, laser weapons are considered very cost-effective. That’s why the Indian Army has already started using them. Soon, the Navy will also start using these laser weapons.
India is not only working on laser weapons but also on other projects like the Aditya Project, Kali Project, and Durga Project. These projects are being developed by DRDO.