INS JALASHWA IS TESTING ITS 30 KW LASER DIRECT ENERGY WEAPON (DEW)

India has made progress in its quest to create directed energy weapons (DEWs), which have the potential to prevent future battles from starting in the first place.

After successfully testing a laser system installed on a truck in 2018, India’s main army research outfit, the army Research and programme outfit (DRDO), is now working on developing a more potent laser with a greater range, according to persons familiar with the programme. The Kalyani Group is also attempting to create or develop DEWs in the nation.

Weapons known as DEWs emit a focused electromagnetic energy beam. The two major types of DEWs are microwaves and high powered lasers. DEWs are anti-material because they can be used to destroy missiles, ships, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and fry circuitry of equipment used on a battlefield. They are also anti-personnel since they can cause intolerable burning of an area of the body and blindness.

The development of microwave weapons by India is unknown, but in August 2018, the DRDO tested a 1KW laser weapon system placed on a truck near Chitradurga. It took the laser beam 36 seconds to pierce the metal sheet after it struck a target 250 yards distant.

The source for producing the laser is currently being developed by two DRDO facilities, the Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS) and Laser Science & Technology Centre (LASTEC), according to officials.

Assuring a focused beam towards a distant target and optoelectronics, or optronics, incorporating lenses to generate that focus are the main obstacles, they said. The system heats up when the laser beam is launched.

It will take years before the weapon can be used because it is not yet ready.

Private businesses are also attempting to enter the DEW market.

Directed Energy Weapons: What Are They?

High power microwaves, electromagnetic rail guns, high energy lasers, and ultra-wideband weapons are examples of directed energy weapons. The capacity to quickly counter is one of the primary characteristics of directed energy weapons. According to a report by DefenseXp, missile manoeuvring, precise response, and graded response are all important.

A DEW is a ranged weapon that uses laser, microwave, and particle beams to harm incoming missiles, vehicles, and optical equipment.

Turkey used a laser weapon for the first time in 2019 to destroy a war vehicle on a battlefield in Libya, however the majority of directed energy weapons are still in the experimental stages.

The ALKA DEW was allegedly used by Turkey. It was initially unveiled in 2019 as a dual electromagnetic/Laser weapon. Its effective firing range with a laser is 500 mm, and with electromagnetic destruction, it is 1000 mm.

The creation of directed energy weapons is being pursued by China, the USA, and Russia. Russia claimed to have created an anti-ballistic missile system powered by microwaves in 1959.

Recently, a laser weapon that can kill aircraft in midflight was successfully tested by the US Navy. The creation of a pod-based directed energy laser weapon system has been disclosed by Lockheed Martin.

A laser pod will be installed into an aircraft, and in a video published by Lockheed Martin, the tactical aerial laser weapon system (TALWS) is seen mounted on an F-16 and uses lasing to destroy incoming enemy missiles.

Current Developmental Status

A laser system was successfully tested by DRDO in 2018. A truck-mounted laser system was successfully tested by DRDO. It took the laser beam 36 seconds to pierce a hole in the metal sheet after hitting a target 250 metres distant.

The DRDO will test a powerful 2kW truck-mounted laser on a target at a distance of 1 kilometre in the following step. A vehicle-mounted 30-100 kW Chemical oxygen-iodine laser is being developed by LASTEC in addition to a 10 kW chemical oxygen-iodine laser. Additionally, LASTEC is developing gas dynamic high power laser-based DEW as part of Project Aditya.

Another DEW being developed by DRDO and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre is KALI, or Kilo Ampere Linear Ejector. It emits strong electron pulses. By disabling the electronic circuit on board, this weapon will secure the destruction of approaching missiles and planes.

China has created the mobile laser defence system LW-30, which neutralises hostile targets such guided bombs, shells, and drones using a high energy laser beam.

Small drones were destroyed by the US Airforce using high powered lasers made by Raytheon. The DEW is being developed against these small drones due to the proliferation of UAV and growing risks posed by them.

Incoming ballistic missiles can be efficiently destroyed by DEW while they are still in flight. These kinds of systems are becoming increasingly important as countries develop ballistic missiles quickly, allowing DEW to serve as the strongest protection against ballistic missiles.

Also Read: Ballistic missile fired by the North into the sea between Japan and Korea

Due to its high-speed reaction time and potential to become the main component of the defensive system against hypersonic missiles, DEW will play a crucial role in thwarting hypersonic missiles in the years to come.

The USA Air Force Research Lab has given a contract to Northrop Grumman Corporation of the USA for the creation of a new laser system that will defend its fifth-generation jets against approaching missiles.

Final Reflections

It will be extremely important for the Indian armed forces to engage hostile missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles since DEWs could have a significant deterrence capacity. In the near future, DEW is probably going to have a big impact on how the battle turns out. DEW is thought to be less expensive to operate than traditional weaponry. Due to the lasers’ near-infinite range and ability to travel at the speed of light, it has applications in space warfare.

The most innovative military-ready technology are on display at DEW. Long-range target engagement is instant with DEW’s incredibly high precision. However, because these weapons use a lot of energy to operate, there are still a lot of obstacles in the way of their deployment on a battlefield.