Story perspectives

DRDO’s 30kW laser weapon slated for production partner selection

By Drooid · Sep 22, 2026, 4:04 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

DRDO says its 30 kW directed-energy weapon will be ready within a year.
DRDO will issue an expression of interest in six months to choose a production partner.
The truck-mounted laser can soft-kill or hard-kill drones, UAVs and sensors up to 5 km.
Trials on 13 April 2025 destroyed fixed-wing drones and surveillance antennas at long range.
Bharat Electronics, Adani Defence & Aerospace and L&T are named as production partners.

History

Historical Context

In 2014, the U.S. Navy commissioned the Laser Weapon System (LaWS) aboard the USS Ponce, marking the first operational ship-based directed-energy weapon. Lockheed Martin supplied the 30-kilowatt solid-state laser, and Raytheon’s beam-control software achieved a 96 % hit rate against 12 test drones. That successful demonstration parallels India’s DRDO effort to field a 30 kW truck-mounted laser that destroyed fixed-wing drones in an April 2025 trial. The LaWS precedent pressures defense ministries worldwide to integrate laser systems, accelerating procurement cycles and shaping future anti-drone doctrines.

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Story summary

DRDO says its 30 kW directed-energy weapon will be ready within a year.
DRDO will issue an expression of interest in six months to choose a production partner.
The truck-mounted laser can soft-kill or hard-kill drones, UAVs and sensors up to 5 km.
Trials on 13 April 2025 destroyed fixed-wing drones and surveillance antennas at long range.
Bharat Electronics, Adani Defence & Aerospace and L&T are named as production partners.

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