Indian Army Deploys New DRDO Laser to Neutralize Chinese Drone Near LoC

A drone of Chinese origin, allegedly operated by the Pakistan Army, was shot down by the Indian Army near the Line of Control in Jammu using an indigenously developed anti-drone system.

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Defence sources confirmed that the drone was detected near Indian territory in the 16 Corps area, south of the Pir Panjal ranges. The Army Air Defence units responded promptly, intercepting the unmanned aerial vehicle with the Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction System, which was fully designed and developed in India.

This system, capable of jamming signals, spoofing drone navigation, and neutralizing aerial threats, has been extensively deployed along the country's borders. In this case, it played a crucial role.

Homegrown Solutions for Modern Threats

The Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction System was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), India’s leading defence R&D agency. At its heart is a 2-kilowatt laser that can neutralize drones from distances ranging between 800 and 1,000 metres. Additionally, it offers support for various disruption methods, enhancing its versatility in addressing a wide array of threats.

Currently, it is deployed by the Indian Army and other security forces to tackle the growing threat of enemy drone incursions along the Line of Control (LoC) and international borders.

India's New Laser Weapon System Ready for Combat

The anti-drone laser system is already operational, but DRDO has revealed an even more significant advancement: a 30-kilowatt directed-energy weapon capable of neutralising fixed-wing aircraft, swarm drones, and incoming missiles.

After successful trials, this laser-based system has moved into the production and deployment phase across military platforms. With this achievement, India becomes part of an exclusive group of countries—alongside the United States, China, and Russia—that possess such powerful laser weapons.

Dr. Samir V. Kamat, the Chairman of DRDO, stated that, "This is just the beginning of the journey. The synergy that this lab has achieved with other DRDO labs, industry and academia, I am sure we will reach our destination soon... We are also working on other high energy systems like high energy microwaves, electromagnetic pulse. So we are working on a number of technologies that will give us Star Wars capability. What you saw today was one of the components of Star Wars technologies."

He added, "As far as I know, it is the United States, Russia and China that have demonstrated this capability. Israel is also working on similar capabilities, I would say we are the fourth or fifth country in the world to demonstrate this system."

Dr. Jagannath Nayak, the Director of the Centre for High Energy System and Sciences (CHESS) at DRDO, states that, "Whatever we have achieved today is a great success, and we have seen that we have neutralised fixed-wing aircraft at long range and then we have also seen that we have neutralised swarm drone... with the laser weapon, we can neutralise multiple targets. So, this is one of the new and emerging weapon systems. It is a massless weapon and the concentration of laser light falls on the target and neutralises it. So this is an achievement for our country and DRDO..."

Combat Capabilities and Deployment

The 30-kilowatt system is designed to neutralize aerial threats like drones and helicopters within a 5-kilometre range. It incorporates electronic warfare features to disrupt both communication and satellite signals, enhancing its tactical advantage.

This system can be installed on ground-based units or modified for use on naval platforms. It comes equipped with a 360-degree Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensor for accurate targeting. Additionally, it can be swiftly deployed by air, rail, road, or sea, providing operational flexibility across various environments and scenarios.

Up Next: The 300-Kilowatt 'Surya' Laser

India's laser weapon advancements go beyond the 30-kilowatt system, with work currently progressing on a more potent 300-kilowatt system called "Surya."

This system is designed to neutralize fast-moving aerial threats like incoming missiles and drones, with an expected effective range of up to 20 kilometers.

This development reflects a global trend, as militaries worldwide are heavily investing in high-powered lasers to defend airspace and installations from the rapidly advancing threats of drone warfare and precision missile systems.

Strategic Importance

India's progress in directed-energy weapons coincides with rising regional tensions and an uptick in drone activity along its borders. The deployment of a Chinese-origin drone by Pakistan underscores the increasing complexity of cross-border surveillance and intrusion tactics.

The successful operation of DRDO’s anti-drone system and the introduction of its advanced laser weaponry signal a shift in India's strategy to protect its airspace, with a greater emphasis on domestically developed, cutting-edge technologies to address emerging threats.

As defence officials continue to monitor drone activity, India's new deterrence capabilities are no longer in the testing phase. They are now operational—deployed and active in the field.

(This Article was originally published by MSN)