India is moving closer to fielding a more advanced indigenous counter-drone capability as the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) prepares to take its 30kW-class directed-energy weapon into the production phase. The truck-mounted laser system has been developed to deal with aerial threats including drone swarms, fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles and surveillance sensors at distances of up to 5 kilometres.
The development marks a transition for the programme from technology demonstration towards industrialisation. DRDO completed the final trials of the 30kW system in August 2025, and the organisation is now preparing to bring an Indian industry partner into the next stage. The planned partnership will support the development of the system’s First-of-Production Model before wider manufacturing can begin.
Unlike conventional air-defence weapons that rely on missiles or ammunition, a directed-energy weapon uses a concentrated laser beam to deliver energy onto a target. For counter-drone operations, this technology can provide another method of engaging unmanned aircraft, particularly when forces face multiple targets at the same time.
The 30kW system is being developed on a mobile truck platform, giving it the ability to be transported and deployed according to operational requirements. Its reported 5-kilometre engagement range places it above India’s lower-power laser systems currently being developed or produced. DRDO has already established a technology path involving lower-power systems, including a 2kW-class weapon, while a 10kW system has also progressed towards military use.
The growing use of inexpensive drones has increased interest in technologies that can deal with unmanned threats without relying exclusively on conventional interceptors. A large number of drones can place pressure on air-defence resources, making layered systems that combine different technologies increasingly important. Laser weapons can form one part of such a network, alongside missiles, guns, radar and electronic warfare.
However, laser systems also have operational limitations. Their performance can be affected by atmospheric conditions such as dust, smoke, water vapour and other particles that can weaken or scatter the laser energy before it reaches the target. Adequate electrical power, thermal management and precise target tracking are also essential for sustained operation.
DRDO’s 30kW programme is part of a wider effort to increase India’s directed-energy capabilities. The organisation is also working on higher-power systems, including 50kW and 100kW-class technologies. These developments point towards the gradual expansion of laser-based systems for different layers of air defence.
The immediate priority for the 30kW weapon is to identify an industrial partner and develop the first production model. Successful completion of this stage would move the system closer to becoming a manufactured defence product rather than remaining primarily a technology demonstrator.
For India’s defence industry, the programme also represents an opportunity to expand domestic expertise in high-energy lasers, sensors, tracking systems and associated power technologies. As the production process moves forward, the 30kW weapon could become an important component of India’s evolving approach to countering the growing use of unmanned aerial systems.
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