Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) System

Mk-II(A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) System

• What it is: A high-powered laser-based weapon system that uses directed energy to neutralize aerial threats such as drones, missiles, and sensors.
• Developed by: Centre for High Energy Systems & Sciences (CHESS), a DRDO lab in Hyderabad, in collaboration with other DRDO entities, industry, and academia.
• Purpose: Designed to offer cost-effective, rapid-response air defense against drones, surveillance systems, and potentially missiles with minimal collateral damage.
• How the Laser-DEW Works?
• Detection: Targets are tracked using radar or an inbuilt Electro-Optic (EO) system.
• Engagement: A focused laser beam travels at the speed of light, slicing through the target’s surface, disabling or destroying it through structural failure.
• Key Features
• Power Output: 30-kilowatt laser — capable of targeting fixed-wing UAVs and swarming drones.
• Speed: Instantaneous engagement — precision hit in seconds.
• Cost-Effective: Firing cost = few litres of petrol, significantly cheaper than conventional missiles.
• Mobility: Vehicle-mounted, adaptable for both land and future air/space platforms.
• Significance:
• Strategic Edge: Places India alongside the US, China, and Russia in possessing advanced laser-DEW capabilities.
• Low Collateral Damage: Ideal for neutralizing threats without large-scale destruction.
• Force Multiplier: Enhances India’s counter-drone and missile defense capacity in a cost-effective and sustainable way.
• Indigenization Boost: Reinforces India’s path towards Atmanirbhar Bharat in defense tech.