Somewhere near a forward outpost in Arunachal Pradesh (China border). 0400 hours.
A sudden blip on the radar. Then fifty more. They’re not enemy aircraft. They’re not birds. They’re drones—small, fast, and arriving en masse from multiple directions.
Each drone is no larger than a microwave oven, flying low, with irregular movement patterns that confuse radar and targeting systems. They carry a variety of payloads—some with small explosives, others with cameras, jammers, or even chemical sprayers.
Their job? To blind sensors, damage equipment, and create confusion before a major ground assault.
The defense team is ready, but its traditional tools feel inadequate. Missiles are too expensive and too few, guns are limited in range and accuracy, and jamming may not stop pre-programmed or autonomous drones.
Then, from a camouflaged trailer on the ridgeline, a silent beam of light slices through the darkness.
One drone wobbles mid-air and crashes, followed by another. There is no sound, no fireball, just the smell of burned circuits. The swarm is disoriented. A few more beams later, the rest retreat or fall.
Welcome to the age of directed energy warfare.
Why Traditional Defences Fall Short Against Drone Swarms
Drones have changed the face of modern warfare. Once limited to reconnaissance, today’s drones can carry explosives, jam communication networks, drop weapons, or act as suicide bombers. And when deployed in swarms, they overwhelm even the most advanced air defense systems.
Missiles are too costly to be used against drones. Each interceptor may cost tens of lakhs of rupees or more. Using a high-end missile to destroy a low-cost drone makes little financial or tactical sense.
Gun systems are effective only at close range and struggle to track fast erratic targets. Moreover, in a swarm scenario, guns can’t reload fast enough to match the speed and volume of the threat.
And even electronic jamming has its limits. Some drones operate on encrypted or pre-programmed paths and are unaffected by common jamming techniques.
So what’s the alternative? Enter laser weapons.
How Laser Weapons Work: A Simplified Explanation
Laser weapons are part of the broader category of Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs). These systems use concentrated beams of electromagnetic energy to damage or destroy targets.
Unlike bullets or missiles, lasers have no mass. They use light energy to generate heat at the target site, burning through plastic, metal, or sensitive electronic circuits.
A laser weapon typically includes:
- A power source or generator
- A beam director (like a turret or gimbal)
- A tracking system (radar, lidar, or optical)
- A cooling system to prevent overheating
When the system detects an incoming drone, it locks on and directs the beam precisely at a weak point—the motor, battery pack, or onboard sensor. In a matter of seconds, the heat disables the drone, causing it to crash or burn out mid-air.
Why Lasers Are The Ideal Anti-Drone Solution
- Speed of Engagement: Laser beams travel at the speed of light. Once a target is identified, the laser hits it instantly. There’s no time-of-flight delay like with missiles.
- Low Cost Per Shot: Firing a missile costs thousands or lakhs of rupees. A single laser “shot” costs the price of electricity used—often just a few hundred rupees.
- High Precision: Lasers can target a drone’s weak spots—motors, sensors, or wings—while the rest of the drone remains intact, minimizing debris and risk to nearby infrastructure or people.
- Unlimited Ammo (Almost): As long as the weapon has power and isn’t overheated, it can keep firing. This is vital in swarm scenarios where dozens or hundreds of drones may attack at once.
- Silent and Stealthy: Lasers don’t make noise. They don’t create explosions. They leave minimal trace. This is useful for covert defense in urban areas or along sensitive borders.
India’s Directed Energy Arsenal: Where We Stand
India is steadily developing indigenous DEW capabilities. Two main programs stand out:
- DURGA-II: The Directionally Unrestricted Ray-Gun Array (DURGA-II) is a DRDO-led project aimed at developing mobile laser weapons for the Army and Air Force. These systems can be mounted on trucks or tanks and deployed to high-threat zones. They are designed to neutralize drones, rockets, and even mortar shells in real-time.
- KALI: The Kilo Ampere Linear Injector (KALI) isn’t a laser in the traditional sense. It is a particle beam accelerator capable of emitting high-energy pulses that can disable the electronics of incoming weapons. While KALI is more experimental, it could evolve into a strategic anti-satellite or anti-missile tool.
While not yet at full operational capability, these programs show that India recognizes the urgency of DEWs and is laying the groundwork for future deployment.
Implications For The Armed Forces
Indian Army: The Indian Army operates in diverse terrains—from deserts and plains to mountains and urban zones. Each of these presents a different kind of challenge when dealing with UAVs and drones. Laser weapons could be deployed on border posts in high-altitude areas like Ladakh to target Chinese reconnaissance drones or swarming loitering munitions.
During counter-insurgency operations, portable laser systems mounted on jeeps or armored vehicles can neutralize low-flying drones without risking collateral damage. Lasers also offer a way to protect artillery, radar stations, and ammunition dumps in remote areas where resupply of missiles is difficult.
Indian Navy: Indian naval ships face a unique challenge. Drones and loitering munitions flying low over the sea surface can bypass radar detection and threaten high-value vessels like destroyers or aircraft carriers. DEWs offer a perfect defensive solution—they work well at sea where line-of-sight is unobstructed.
Lasers can protect vessels during chokepoint crossings such as the Malacca Strait or while deployed in contested waters of the South China Sea. Lasers could also be deployed on Coast Guard ships for maritime anti-piracy operations where pirate drones are used for surveillance, communication jamming, or direct attack.
Indian Air Force: For the Indian Air Force, DEWs present both an opportunity and a necessity. Ground-based DEW units can protect forward airbases, runways, fuel depots, and radar stations against low-cost drone incursions.
They can be integrated into layered air defense systems, offering a close-in solution when missile systems are saturated or ineffective. In the future, laser pods may be mounted on fighter aircraft or UAVs for aerial interception of hostile drones. IAF’s AWACS and AEW&C platforms, which are slow-moving and highly valuable, can benefit from onboard DEWs for self-defense.
Civilian Applications: Protecting National Infrastructure
Civil Aviation and Airports: Civilian airports are becoming high-risk zones for drone disruptions. Drones flown near runways can force flight diversions, delays, or even shutdowns. Lasers offer an immediate, non-lethal option for neutralizing such threats.
Airport authorities can install rooftop laser turrets that automatically detect and disable drones without disrupting airport communication systems.
Shipping and Maritime Infrastructure: Indian shipping lanes, especially through the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea, face constant threats from pirates and state-sponsored disruption tactics.
Ships equipped with DEWs can defend themselves against drone scouts or explosives-laden UAVs. Ports and harbor installations can install stationary laser systems as part of their perimeter defense mechanism.
Oil and Gas Facilities: Critical infrastructure like oil refineries, LNG terminals, and nuclear plants is increasingly vulnerable to drone surveillance and sabotage. Lasers can act as an invisible, always-on perimeter fence. The advantage is that no projectile is involved, so the surrounding areas remain safe from misfires.
VIP Protection and Government Installations: In high-security zones such as Parliament, Prime Minister’s residence, or military HQs, small UAVs can be used for spying or attacks. Portable DEWs can be deployed for perimeter protection, especially during high-profile public events. This can be scaled to large gatherings such as Republic Day parades or major religious festivals.
Challenges & Limitations
- Power Requirements: High-powered lasers need a steady and substantial power supply. Integrating them into vehicles or mobile units requires advanced energy storage and distribution solutions.
- Atmospheric Conditions: Dust, rain, fog, and pollution can disperse or weaken laser beams, limiting their effectiveness in certain terrains and weather.
- Cooling Systems: Laser weapons produce immense heat. Without efficient cooling, they can overheat and shut down.
- Targeting Accuracy: In a dense swarm, picking out the most dangerous drones and locking onto them in real time requires advanced tracking algorithms and AI.
Despite these, progress is rapid. Global benchmarks show lasers are transitioning from testbeds to battlefield tools.
What India Must Do Now
- Accelerate Field Trials: Move from lab tests to real-world deployments along the western and northern borders.
- Integrate AI-Based Tracking: Use machine vision and neural networks to identify, prioritize, and lock onto the most dangerous threats in a swarm.
- Develop Naval and Airborne Variants: Create rugged laser systems that can withstand the vibration, motion, and power challenges of aircraft and ships.
- Public-Private Collaboration: Leverage Indian private defense startups and PSU giants to accelerate innovation and manufacturing.
- Export Capability: India should position itself as a provider of low-cost laser defense solutions to developing nations facing drone threats.
Conclusion: Light Is The New Shield
The battlefield has changed. The enemy is unmanned, autonomous, and increasingly artificial. Whether it’s a swarm over Ladakh, a rogue drone near Mumbai airport, or a piracy drone attack near the Gulf of Aden, India needs a shield that doesn’t run out, doesn’t miss, and doesn’t cost a fortune per shot.
That shield is light.
With the right investment, collaboration, and urgency, India can be not just a consumer but a global leader in laser defense.
The war of the future won’t be won with bullets or bombs. It will be won with beams.
- Group Captain MJ Augustine Vinod (Retd), VSM, is a former Mirage 2000 fighter pilot, air accident investigator, and co-founder of AMOS Aerospace. He writes on emerging defense technologies, AI in warfare, and India’s aviation future.
- He tweets at @mjavinod
