Beyond The S-400: India Pushes Next-Generation Air Defence With High-Power Laser Weapons

Last Updated:January 20, 2026, 16:11 IST

DRDO has now entered an advanced phase in the development of a 300-kilowatt class high-energy laser (HEL) weapon system, designed as a long-range, precision hard-kill platform

Sources indicate that most of the critical technologies required for the laser system have already been successfully tested. (Reuters)

As global security dynamics rapidly evolve, even the world’s most powerful nations are reassessing their vulnerabilities in the air and space domains. The United States has announced the development of a massive air and missile defence shield, dubbed the ‘Golden Dome’, with an initial projected cost of $175 billion. Europe, Japan and China are also accelerating work on advanced air and missile defence systems, integrating cutting-edge technologies to counter emerging threats.

India, too, is moving decisively in this direction. In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, policymakers and defence planners undertook a comprehensive review of the country’s air defence preparedness. The assessment underscored the urgent need for a robust, multi-layered system capable not only of defending Indian airspace but also of neutralising hostile aerial threats and mounting effective counter-strikes.

This strategic shift culminated in the announcement of Mission Sudarshan Chakra, a national initiative aimed at creating an integrated air and missile defence architecture covering the entire country. Existing systems such as the Akash-NG and the S-400 fleets are being aligned with this vision. According to media reports, India is also exploring the acquisition of Russia’s next-generation S-500 air defence system, reflecting preparations for future conflicts that may extend into the space domain.

Alongside these acquisitions, indigenous capability development remains a core focus. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is working on an advanced air and missile defence solution capable of neutralising aerial threats within a 20-kilometre range without using conventional ammunition. The system is based on high-energy laser technology, marking a significant leap in India’s directed energy weapon capabilities.

DRDO has now entered an advanced phase in the development of a 300-kilowatt class high-energy laser (HEL) weapon system, designed as a long-range, precision hard-kill platform. Based on a hybrid electrically driven gas laser architecture, the system is expected to achieve an effective engagement range exceeding 20 kilometres, positioning it as a key component of India’s next-generation air and missile defence framework.

Sources indicate that most of the critical technologies required for the laser system have already been successfully tested. Several subsystems are fully mature, while others are in advanced stages of integration. The electrically powered gas laser architecture offers high efficiency, improved beam quality and scalability, opening the path for even more powerful systems in the future.

Central to the system is the Centrifugal Bubble Secondary Optical Group (SOG) technology, which has been validated and is critical for protecting the laser’s optical beam path. This technology prevents contamination, thermal loading and turbulence at the output window, factors that can severely degrade beam quality and reduce operational range. By maintaining a clean and stable optical path, the SOG ensures sustained high-performance operation.

The high-gain supersonic nozzle, another essential component, has also been successfully tested. It enables rapid expansion and cooling of the laser medium, allowing the generation of high-power, high-efficiency beams. The supersonic flow system ensures continuous and stable laser operation, which is vital at this power level.

To manage the extreme temperatures and pressures generated during laser firing, DRDO has developed a sealed exhaust control system. Partial validation has been completed, with full validation expected during full-scale demonstrator trials. This subsystem is critical for maintaining thermal and pressure balance during extended firing cycles.

The Long Range Tracking Assembly (LRTA), the backbone of target acquisition and fire control, has also been validated. It is capable of accurately tracking fast-moving aerial targets such as drones, cruise missiles and aircraft, and potentially ballistic missiles during their terminal phase. Work is currently underway on the Large Aperture Beam Director, a crucial subsystem responsible for directing, stabilising and focusing the laser beam while compensating for platform vibrations, atmospheric disturbances and target movement.

An adaptive control system, currently under partial development, will manage beam shaping, phase correction, thermal compensation and real-time atmospheric adjustments. Once fully integrated, the system will be able to maintain a focused, high-energy beam even in challenging conditions such as dust, smoke, turbulence and variable weather.

When fully operational, the directed energy weapon system will be capable of neutralising a wide spectrum of aerial threats, from drone swarms and loitering munitions to cruise missiles and fixed-wing aircraft, within a 20-kilometre radius. Its applications are expected to span air defence, counter-drone operations and multi-domain warfare.

The hybrid electrically driven gas laser approach also allows DRDO to scale the technology to even higher power levels in the future, potentially enabling the development of megawatt-class laser systems for strategic missile defence roles.

Once inducted, the 300-kilowatt high-energy laser is expected to fundamentally transform India’s air defence posture. Offering near-zero per-shot cost, instant target engagement, deep magazine capacity and resilience against traditional countermeasures, directed energy weapons are increasingly seen as the future backbone of air defence.

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