Syllabus:

GS3: Achievements of Indians in science & technology.

Context: 

India successfully tested its first high-energy laser weapon, the Mk-II(A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW), at the National Open Air Range in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.

More on the news:

• India has become 4^th country along with the US, China, and Russia, that have shown such a capability. 
• The successful trials of a high-powered Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) System demonstrated Indian capability to target drones, missiles and combat aircraft using advanced laser technology. 
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation's Mk-II(A) Laser- Directed Energy Weapon generates a 30KW laser that can burn through enemy drones and can easily be used to blind surveillance equipment as well.
• The weapon can engage targets at the speed of light, using a laser beam to cause structural failure or destroy warheads, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional ammunition with minimal collateral damage.
• DRDO plans to induct the land-based system within two years, with future upgrades for greater range and applications on ships, aircraft, and satellites.

Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs)

• They harness concentrated energy to neutralize threats with unprecedented precision and speed.
• Unlike conventional munitions, which rely on physical projectiles or explosives, DEWs deliver energy through lasers, microwaves, or particle beams to disable or destroy targets.

Types: 

Laser-based DEWs, emit highly focused beams of light that travel at the speed of light (approximately 300,000 kilometers per second).

• When this beam strikes a target, it transfers intense heat, causing structural failure, melting critical components, or detonating warheads. 
• For instance, India’s 30-kilowatt Mk-II(A) laser demonstrated its ability to neutralize drones and sensors up to 5 km away by inducing catastrophic overheating in seconds.

Microwave-based DEWs, another category, emit electromagnetic pulses to disrupt or destroy electronic systems. 

• These are particularly effective against swarms of drones or missile guidance systems, as they can disable multiple targets simultaneously within a wide area.

Particle beam weapons accelerate charged particles to damage targets at the molecular level, offering potential for future applications.

Advantages of DEWs:

• They require no physical ammunition.
• Reduced logistical burdens and costs. 
• Engagements are estimated to cost very less per shot compared to thousands for missiles.
• Their speed-of-light delivery ensures near-instantaneous impact, critical for countering fast-moving threats like hypersonic missiles. 
• They produce minimal collateral damage, making them ideal for precision strikes in populated areas.

Mains Practise Question

Q. Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs) represent a paradigm shift in modern warfare." Discuss India’s advancements in this field and their strategic implications.

Mains PYQ:

Q. How is S-400 air defence system technically superior to any other system presently available in the world? (2021)