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India Successfully Tests Mk II(A) Laser Directed Energy Weapon to Counter Drones and Missiles.
On April 13, 2025, India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) announced the successful full-scale trial of its next-generation laser-directed energy weapon system, designated Mk-II(A), as reported by The Economic Times. This demonstration represents a strategic development in mastering high-power laser weapon technologies capable of neutralizing drones, missiles, and other small projectiles within seconds. The trial was conducted at the National Open Air Range in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, in the presence of military experts, industrial representatives, and engineers involved in the program.
At the core of the Mk-II(A) is a 2-kilowatt laser capable of neutralizing drones within a range of 800 to 1,000 meters. (Picture source:X Channel @AdithyaKM_)
According to official statements, the Mk-II(A) system, designed and developed entirely in India, was tested across its full operational capability. It demonstrated the ability to detect, engage, and destroy fixed-wing drones at long range, counter a coordinated swarm attack, and neutralize electronic surveillance devices such as sensors and antennae. DRDO highlighted the rapid engagement speed, high targeting precision, and the weapon’s ability to neutralize aerial threats within seconds, making it effective against lightweight and agile targets, particularly tactical or loitering drones increasingly present on modern battlefields.
In a context marked by the proliferation of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and the emergence of swarms as asymmetric threats, directed energy weapons (DEWs) are attracting growing interest. DRDO emphasized the cost-effectiveness of such systems, noting that firing the laser for a few seconds consumes the equivalent of only a few liters of fuel. This positions the technology as a viable long-term solution for low-cost, high-frequency threats. It also reflects a shift in defense technology, as traditional kinetic systems require complex logistics and significant financial investment, whereas laser weapons offer near-instantaneous engagement with minimal marginal cost.
At the core of the Mk-II(A) is a 2-kilowatt laser capable of neutralizing drones within a range of 800 to 1,000 meters. Additionally, a more powerful 30-kilowatt version has been developed to engage larger targets such as light helicopters or high-endurance drones at distances of up to 5 kilometers. The system also includes electronic warfare capabilities such as jamming tactical communication and satellite signals, adding a multidimensional layer to its operational use.
Target acquisition is achieved via either an external radar or the system’s onboard electro-optical suite, which includes a 360-degree infrared sensor. Once a threat is detected, the system emits a high-intensity laser beam sufficient to cause structural failure or direct destruction, especially if it strikes the payload. DRDO stated that the technology significantly reduces the risk of collateral damage, a growing concern in modern operational environments where distinguishing between military targets and civilian infrastructure is increasingly complex.
The Mk-II(A) program is the result of a national collaboration led by DRDO’s Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS), involving academic institutions and Indian industry partners specializing in optics, precision engineering, and artificial intelligence systems. The system is designed to be deployable across multiple platforms, including land vehicles and naval vessels, and can be transported rapidly by air, rail, road, or sea. This modularity enables its use in diverse operational environments, including urban and coastal settings.
With this technological milestone, India now joins the limited group of nations—including the United States, China, Israel, and Russia—equipped with a fully functional high-power laser-directed energy weapon. This development strengthens India’s strategic autonomy and could reshape regional defense balances, particularly in close-range air defense and counter-UAS operations. As modern conflict zones increasingly involve low-cost autonomous systems that are difficult to intercept with conventional means, the Mk-II(A) offers a viable and adaptable response tailored to 21st-century threats.
The deployment of directed energy weapons in armed forces reflects a broader doctrinal shift toward immediate neutralization capabilities and multi-layered active defense systems. These systems, developed by national agencies such as DRDO in India, DARPA and the US Navy in the United States, and Rafael in Israel, are typically the result of close cooperation among research centers, academic institutions, and specialized industries. The development process generally involves integration on experimental platforms, open-range technical validation, and subsequent adaptation to land, naval, or airborne platforms according to mission-specific requirements.
Operational use of these weapons relies on real-time threat detection using radar or electro-optical sensors, followed by immediate engagement with a high-power laser beam intended to disable or destroy the incoming threat. The stakes are multifaceted: addressing the saturation of traditional systems by drone swarms, reducing dependency on ammunition stockpiles, improving targeting precision, and minimizing unintended damage. However, the deployment of such systems comes with constraints, including the need for stable and continuous power supply, favorable atmospheric conditions for beam propagation, and highly precise targeting infrastructure. Their widespread integration into military operations introduces significant technical, logistical, and doctrinal challenges, especially in dense urban areas or regions affected by electronic warfare.
The successful Mk-II(A) trial demonstrates India’s growing capabilities in emerging defense technologies. Its speed of engagement, modularity, and cost-efficiency represent a shift in short-range air defense strategies. In the long term, the system could influence priority setting in anti-aircraft defense planning and provide India with an additional technological deterrent within the evolving regional and international security landscape.