SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has taken a significant step toward revolutionizing its defense capabilities by planning to transfer the technology of its indigenously developed Mk-II(A) 30-kilowatt (kW) Laser Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) to private sector companies. This move, announced following successful trials on April 13, 2025, at the National Open Air Range in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, aims to accelerate mass production to meet growing interest from the Indian Army for additional orders.
The decision aligns with India’s push for self-reliance in defense manufacturing and positions the country among an elite group of nations with advanced DEW capabilities. This article explores the Mk-II(A) DEW, the technology transfer plan, the Army’s interest, and the strategic implications for India’s defense ecosystem.
The Mk-II(A), developed by DRDO’s Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS) in Hyderabad, in collaboration with other DRDO labs, academic institutions, and Indian industries, is India’s first high-powered laser-based DEW. Successfully demonstrated on April 13, 2025, the system neutralized fixed-wing drones, countered multiple drone attacks, and destroyed enemy surveillance sensors and antennae at ranges up to 3.5–5 km. The weapon, mounted on a mobile truck platform, combines six 5 kW lasers to deliver a 30 kW beam, capable of engaging targets at the speed of light with pinpoint accuracy.
DRDO’s decision to transfer the Mk-II(A) technology to private sector companies builds on its successful collaboration with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), which has already been licensed for mass production of earlier DEW systems, such as the 2 kW and 10 kW counter-drone variants. The transfer, outlined under DRDO’s 2025 Policy for Transfer of Technology (ToT), aims to leverage private industry’s manufacturing capacity, innovation, and scalability to meet the Indian Army’s demand for additional units.
The Indian Army’s enthusiasm for the Mk-II(A) stems from its proven effectiveness against asymmetric threats, particularly drones and unmanned aerial systems (UAS), which have become prevalent along the Line of Control (LoC) and Line of Actual Control (LAC). In April 2025, a 2 kW Mk-I DEW destroyed a Chinese drone used by the Pakistani Army near the LoC, underscoring the technology’s operational relevance.
The Army has already inducted 23 IDD&IS systems with 2 kW lasers for ?400 crore, deployed during high-profile events like Republic Day 2020 and 2021 to counter drone threats. The Mk-II(A)’s enhanced 30 kW power and 3.5–5 km range offer superior capabilities, prompting the Army to express interest in further orders. According to DRDO officials, the system’s ability to deliver “lightning speed engagement, precision, and lethality” makes it the “most potent Counter Drone System” for modern warfare.
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