India Successfully Tests Indigenous Laser Weapon, Joins Global Leaders in Advanced Defense Technology

The DRDO's high-powered laser system demonstrated its ability to neutralize drones and surveillance equipment during a field trial in Kurnool, marking India's entry into the elite group of nations with cutting-edge directed energy weapons.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested a 30-kilowatt laser-based directed energy weapon (DEW) on April 13, 2025, at the National Open Air Range in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.
The DEW system neutralized fixed-wing UAVs, intercepted drone swarms, and disabled surveillance sensors, showcasing its precision and lethality.
With this achievement, India joins an exclusive group of nations, including the United States, Russia, and China, that possess high-powered laser weapon technology.
The indigenously developed system, created by DRDO's Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS) in collaboration with other labs, academia, and industry, highlights India's growing self-reliance in defense innovation.
The laser weapon offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional missile and kinetic systems, engaging targets at the speed of light with minimal operational costs.