India Successfully Tests Mk II(A) Laser Directed Energy Weapon for Drone and Missile Defense

On April 13, 2025, India‘s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) announced the successful completion of a full-scale trial for its next-generation laser-directed energy weapon system, known as Mk-II(A), as reported by The Economic Times. This trial marks a significant advancement in the development of high-power laser weapon technologies capable of swiftly neutralizing drones, missiles, and other small projectiles. The testing took place at the National Open Air Range in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, with military experts, industry representatives, and engineers involved in the project in attendance.

Official reports indicate that the Mk-II(A) system, which was entirely designed and developed in India, was evaluated for its full operational capabilities. It successfully demonstrated its ability to detect, engage, and destroy fixed-wing drones at extended ranges, counter coordinated swarm attacks, and disable electronic surveillance equipment such as sensors and antennas. DRDO emphasized the system’s rapid engagement speed, high targeting accuracy, and its effectiveness in neutralizing aerial threats within seconds, particularly against lightweight and agile targets like tactical or loitering drones that are increasingly common on contemporary battlefields.

In an era characterized by the rise of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and the emergence of swarm tactics as asymmetric threats, directed energy weapons (DEWs) are gaining significant attention. DRDO highlighted the cost-effectiveness of these systems, noting that operating the laser for just a few seconds consumes only a small amount of fuel. This positions the technology as a practical long-term solution for addressing low-cost, high-frequency threats. Furthermore, it signifies a shift in defense technology, as traditional kinetic systems often require complex logistics and substantial financial resources, while laser weapons provide near-instantaneous engagement at minimal additional costs.

The Mk-II(A) features a 2-kilowatt laser designed to neutralize drones at distances ranging from 800 to 1,000 meters. Furthermore, a more advanced 30-kilowatt variant has been created to target larger objects, such as light helicopters and long-endurance drones, at ranges of up to 5 kilometers. This system is also equipped with electronic warfare capabilities, including the ability to jam tactical communications and satellite signals, enhancing its operational versatility.

Target acquisition is facilitated through an external radar or the system’s integrated electro-optical suite, which boasts a 360-degree infrared sensor. Upon detecting a threat, the system can project a high-intensity laser beam capable of causing structural failure or outright destruction, particularly if it impacts the payload. According to DRDO, this technology significantly mitigates the risk of collateral damage, addressing a critical concern in contemporary operational contexts where differentiating between military targets and civilian infrastructure is increasingly challenging.

The Mk-II(A) initiative is a product of national collaboration spearheaded by DRDO’s Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS), involving partnerships with academic institutions and Indian industry experts in optics, precision engineering, and artificial intelligence. The system is designed for deployment across various platforms, including ground vehicles and naval ships, and can be swiftly transported by air, rail, road, or sea. This modular design allows for its application in a wide range of operational environments, including urban and coastal areas.

With this significant technological advancement, India has now entered the exclusive circle of nations—alongside the United States, China, Israel, and Russia—that possess a fully operational high-power laser-directed energy weapon. This progress enhances India’s strategic independence and has the potential to alter the regional defense landscape, especially in areas such as close-range air defense and counter-unmanned aerial systems (UAS) operations. As contemporary conflict environments increasingly feature low-cost autonomous systems that are challenging to intercept using traditional methods, the Mk-II(A) presents a practical and flexible solution designed to address 21st-century security challenges.

The integration of directed energy weapons into military forces signifies a wider doctrinal evolution towards immediate neutralization capabilities and comprehensive active defense systems. These technologies, developed by national organizations like DRDO in India, DARPA and the US Navy in the United States, and Rafael in Israel, typically emerge from collaborative efforts among research institutions, academic entities, and specialized industries. The development process usually entails integration on experimental platforms, technical validation in open ranges, and subsequent modifications for land, naval, or aerial applications based on specific mission needs.

The operational deployment of these weapons depends on real-time threat detection through radar or electro-optical sensors, followed by swift engagement using a high-power laser beam aimed at neutralizing or destroying the incoming threat. The implications are complex: they address the challenges posed by drone swarms overwhelming traditional systems, decrease reliance on ammunition reserves, enhance targeting accuracy, and reduce collateral damage. Nonetheless, the implementation of such systems is subject to limitations, including the necessity for a stable and continuous power supply, favorable atmospheric conditions for effective beam transmission, and highly accurate targeting systems.