Directed Energy Weapons
Science & Technology › Defence Technology and Missile Systems · Topic 16.10
Directed energy weapons, DEWs, damage or destroy targets by sending concentrated energy, such as a laser beam, high power microwaves or a stream of particles, rather than by firing a physical projectile. A high energy laser heats a target until its surface burns or its structure fails, a high power microwave weapon disables electronics with a burst of electromagnetic energy, and a particle beam uses charged or neutral particles. Their advantages are speed of light engagement, precision, low cost per shot and a deep magazine, since they need only power. Their limits are weather such as clouds and rain, which weaken laser beams, large power needs, heat and short range. DRDO tested a 30 kilowatt laser weapon at Kurnool in April 2025 which struck drones and sensors.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Science & Technology · Defence Technology and Missile Systems
At a Glance
- Types Laser, microwave, particle beam
- Speed Speed of light
- Cost per shot Very low
- Limit Weather and power
- Indian test 30 kW laser, April 2025
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Science & Technology: Defence Technology and Missile Systems
Where Does It Fit?
This topic follows the account of weapons of mass destruction. It describes a new class of weapons that could change air defence and counter-drone tasks, and links with the earlier topics on lasers and drones. Previous topic: Weapons of Mass Destruction: Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Weapons. Next topic: Naval Platforms: Submarines, Aircraft Carriers, Destroyers, Frigates.
What Are the Main Types of Directed Energy Weapons?
| Type | How it works |
|---|---|
| High energy laser | A beam of light focused on a point heats the target until it melts, burns or explodes. Needs tens to hundreds of kilowatts for military use. Fibre lasers are common. Used against drones, rockets, mortar shells and sensors |
| High power microwave | Emits a burst of microwaves that overload electronic circuits of drones, vehicles and missiles. It can affect many targets at once in an area |
| Particle beam | Accelerates charged or neutral particles to high speed. Still mostly at research stage and hard to use in the atmosphere |
| Electromagnetic pulse | A strong burst that damages electronics, from a nuclear explosion or a non-nuclear device |
| Dazzlers | Low power lasers that blind sensors or temporarily disorient |
| Acoustic and millimetre wave | Non-lethal crowd control devices, such as the United States’ Active Denial System |
| Power and cooling | Large batteries or generators are needed, with heat management |
What Are the Advantages, Limits and Indian Developments?
- Advantages: speed of light attack, high precision, low cost per shot compared with a missile, no ammunition to carry, and little collateral damage
- Limits: fog, dust, rain and smoke scatter the beam, the target must be held on spot for seconds, lasers need a clear line of sight, and the device is heavy
- Counter-measures: reflective or ablative coatings and spinning targets
- DRDO laser test: in April 2025 at the National Open Air Range, Kurnool, DRDO successfully tested the Mk-II(A) laser DEW system of 30 kW, which brought down fixed wing drones, destroyed swarm drones and disabled sensors
- Earlier tests: DRDO tested a 2 kW laser in 2017 and a 10 kW system in 2019, and developed anti-drone laser systems for protecting vital sites
- Durga-II: a 100 kW lightweight directed energy weapon, DRDO said it is under development
- Other nations: the United States, Israel with its Iron Beam, China, Russia and the United Kingdom have programmes
- Space and missile defence: lasers have been considered for missile defence in the boost phase, though difficult
What Else Should You Remember?
- Iron Beam: Israel’s laser air defence system which it declared operational in 2025
- HELIOS: a United States Navy laser integrated with the Aegis system
- Dragonfire: a British laser weapon programme
- Counter-drone role: lasers are most useful against small cheap drones that would otherwise be stopped by costly missiles
- Vehicle mounted: Indian laser systems are mounted on trucks
- Fibre laser: many laser beams are combined to raise power
- Beam control: precise pointing and tracking systems
- Atmospheric turbulence: bends the beam, so adaptive optics may help
- Heat damage: time to destroy depends on target material
- Safety rules: blinding laser weapons are banned by Protocol IV of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons of 1995
- Microwave tests: DRDO has also worked on high power microwave systems for anti-drone use
- KALI: Kilo Ampere Linear Injector, a DRDO and BARC device for high power electron beam to make microwaves, developed earlier
- Manufacturing partners: Indian industry and laboratories such as CHESS Hyderabad contribute
- Role in Mission Sudarshan Chakra: directed energy weapons are expected to be part of a layered air defence, as in Air Defence Systems
- Link: laser basics are in Types and Applications of Lasers
- Link to drones: the threat they counter is in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Drone Technology
- Caution: performance figures from tests are rarely complete, so claims should be treated carefully
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Types: laser, microwave, particle beam
- Pros and cons: speed and low cost versus weather
- Indian test: 30 kW laser Kurnool 2025
- Current affairs link: Durga-II and Iron Beam
- Common errors: saying DEW uses explosives or that lasers work equally well in all weather
As an analytical point, directed energy weapons offer a cheap answer to cheap drone swarms, and their deep magazine changes cost exchange in air defence. They are still limited by power, weather and range.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Types Laser, microwave
- Merits Speed, cost
- India DRDO tests
What Came Next?
The next topic covers naval platforms: submarines, aircraft carriers, destroyers and frigates. Next topic: Naval Platforms: Submarines, Aircraft Carriers, Destroyers, Frigates.
Key People and Terms
- DEW Directed energy weapon
- HEL High energy laser
- HPM High power microwave
- EMP Electromagnetic pulse
- Fibre laser Laser in optical fibre
- Adaptive optics Beam correction system
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- DRDO laser test: 30 kW, April 2025, Kurnool.
- Durga-II: 100 kW plan.
- HPM disables electronics.
- Blinding lasers banned by CCW Protocol IV.
- Weakness: weather.
Do Not Confuse With
- Laser and microwave weapon Heats a spot versus disables electronics over an area
- DEW and missile Light speed no ammunition versus physical projectile
- EMP and HPM Wide burst versus directed burst
Memory Hook
Laser burns, microwave fries the chip; cheap per shot, but fog is the foe.
Mains Angle
Questions ask for types, merits and Indian tests. These points help.
- Types Three
- Merits and limits Balance
- India DRDO
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“What are directed energy weapons? Discuss their advantages, limitations and the progress made by India.”
How to Answer
- Define Energy beams.
- Types Laser, HPM.
- Limits Weather.
- India 30 kW test.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What are directed energy weapons?
Directed energy weapons are weapons that damage or destroy targets with focused energy, such as a laser beam, high power microwaves or particle beams, and not with bullets or explosives. They act at the speed of light, are accurate and cost little per shot, but need large amounts of power.
What did DRDO test in April 2025?
In April 2025 DRDO successfully tested a vehicle mounted 30 kilowatt laser directed energy weapon system, the Mk-II(A), at the National Open Air Range in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. It brought down fixed wing drones and swarm drones and disabled sensors, making India one of a few countries with such a capability.
What is a high power microwave weapon?
A high power microwave weapon emits a strong burst of microwave energy that overloads and damages electronic circuits in drones, vehicles or missiles, without destroying them physically. Because the beam is wide, it can disable many targets at once, so it is considered useful against drone swarms.
What are the limitations of laser weapons?
Laser weapons lose power in fog, rain, dust and smoke, need a line of sight, and must keep the beam on a target for several seconds. They also need large power sources and cooling, and their range is limited, so they work best against small close targets such as drones.
Are laser weapons banned?
Blinding laser weapons that are designed to cause permanent blindness are banned by Protocol IV of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons of 1995. Lasers used to destroy equipment such as drones or missiles are not banned, although their use is covered by the general law of armed conflict.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Directed energy weapons can use laser beams.
As well as microwaves.
2 Lasers work equally well in all weather conditions.
Clouds and rain weaken them.
3 DRDO tested a 30 kW laser weapon in April 2025.
At Kurnool.
4 A high power microwave weapon disables electronic systems.
Over a wide area.
Past Mains Questions on This Topic
This topic comes under Defence Technology and Missile Systems. UPSC Mains questions asked on the matching syllabus topic, year-wise with marks:
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