India is taking a major step in counter-drone warfare as the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) moves its most powerful demonstrated directed-energy weapon, a 30kW-class laser system, from trials toward industrial production.

Mounted on a mobile truck platform for operational flexibility, the system is designed to engage drone swarms, fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and surveillance equipment at ranges up to 5 kilometres. DRDO plans to select a domestic industry partner within six months to support mass manufacturing.

The development addresses a critical global military challenge known as the cost-exchange imbalance. While adversaries can deploy inexpensive, low-cost drones for reconnaissance, probing, or saturation attacks, traditional air defence relies on costly interceptor missiles.

Using high-value ammunition against cheap aerial threats rapidly overwhelms missile stockpiles and creates unfavourable economic ratios for defenders.

Directed-energy weapons solve this dilemma by disabling targets with concentrated thermal energy rather than physical projectiles. The laser beam travels at the speed of light, eliminating engagement delay and flight time.

Powered by electrical energy management systems rather than conventional ammunition, the weapon enables repeated engagements without requiring missile reloads, provided power and thermal management systems remain operational.

The operational urgency of such systems was highlighted during Operation Sindoor in May 2025, where widespread drone usage demonstrated how low-cost unmanned platforms could be used to identify air defence positions and force defenders to expend expensive interceptors.

Laser weapons offer a lower-cost engagement alternative, allowing military units to preserve high-value missiles for more dangerous, conventional threats.

Following the successful conclusion of final evaluations in August 2025, the 30kW laser represents the pinnacle of DRDO's publicly demonstrated directed-energy capabilities. It builds upon a layered hierarchy of indigenous technologies, including a smaller 2kW system that is already in production with industrial partners including Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Adani Defence, and Astra.

India is also advancing a 10kW laser system designed for operational ranges up to 2 kilometres. Having cleared the Acceptance of Necessity stage, an initial order for approximately 10 to 12 systems has been placed, with Larsen & Toubro and BEL serving as development-cum-production partners. The 30kW system significantly expands this operational envelope to 5 kilometres.

These laser developments form an integral component of Project Sudarshan Chakra, India's initiative to establish a comprehensive, multi-layered air defence architecture. This broader framework seeks to integrate missiles, guns, electronic warfare platforms, radar networks, and directed-energy weapons to counter a full spectrum of aerial threats across varying operational conditions.

DRDO is already pursuing even higher-power variants, with active research and development underway for 50kW and 100kW-class directed-energy systems.

These future iterations aim to deliver enhanced lethality, extended engagement ranges, and the ability to neutralise hardened, complex aerial targets on high-density battlefields.

India's advancement in directed-energy tech aligns with international trends.

Global powers are actively developing similar systems, including the United States' vehicle- and ship-mounted lasers, Israel's Iron Beam system, China's Silent Hunter and LY-1 platforms, and ongoing Russian developments. India's progress places it among a select group of nations pursuing operational laser defence.

Beyond tactical military advantages, the program underscores an ongoing structural shift within India's defence-industrial ecosystem.

DRDO is increasingly focusing on core research and innovation while transferring routine engineering, industrial scaling, and mass production to domestic industry partners, fostering long-term self-reliance.

Agencies