HYDERABAD, Apr 13 : In a landmark achievement for India’s defence capabilities, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Sunday successfully tested its high-power Laser Directed Energy Weapon (DEW), marking the country’s entry into the exclusive club of nations possessing operational directed energy weapon systems.
The successful field demonstration of the vehicle-mounted DEW Mk-II(A), developed under DRDO’s CHESS programme, was conducted at Kurnool. The system effectively neutralised a fixed-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and a swarm of drones, causing structural damage and disabling onboard surveillance sensors, officials said.
Designed for mobility and rapid deployment, the land-based DEW Mk-II(A) showcased its ability to deliver pinpoint, non-kinetic strikes against low radar cross-section aerial threats, an increasingly vital requirement in modern warfare.
DRDO officials termed the trial a “major technological milestone” and noted that the system’s success represents a significant stride under the Make in India initiative. The Hyderabad-based Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS), which led the development, is tasked with advancing laser and electromagnetic weapons for strategic defence applications.
With this demonstration, India joins a select group of global powers including the United States, China, and Russia that have successfully developed and tested high-energy laser weapons for battlefield deployment.
(UNI)
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