India plans to acquire locally-made directed energy weapons to expand the defense force’s counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) capabilities.
The decision is driven by experiences from the country’s recent clashes with its neighbor Pakistan, which began in April in India-controlled Kashmir and killed more than 20 people.
The selected tool for this effort is a 10-kilowatt system designed by the Indian Defence Research & Development Organisation and manufactured by Mumbai-based defense contractor Larsen & Toubro.
The device projects electromagnetic waves to destroy UAS up to 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) away. It is an upgrade over the company’s base 4-kilowatt version that had already seen action as part of a larger air defense grid to deter Pakistani drones targeting military and civilian infrastructure.
A report from Indian local news agency The Hindu Business Line said that a call for tenders to supply the 10-kilowatt weapon will be announced next month.
Sources familiar with the future acquisition told the outlet that the government will base the sale’s orders on upcoming changes during New Delhi’s operations against Islamabad.
India is also open to collaborating with more industry teams to accelerate production of the capability’s mobile configuration, which can be installed on a 4×4 vehicle.
Once procured, the devices will be distributed to the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.
Recent C-UAS Projects
India’s latest move to reinforce its air defense follows earlier anti-drone initiatives that align with its commitment to modernize combat systems while strengthening indigenous defense manufacturing.
In April, the South Asian country completed a test of a 30-kilowatt laser beam system against autonomous systems, larger aircraft, and missiles.
The platform was evaluated under extreme conditions, neutralizing a moving airborne target at a 3.5-kilometer (2.1-mile) range.
In March 2024, the Indian Army fielded C-UAS systems developed with spoofing, jamming, and anti-signal features to disrupt control and communications between enemies and their UAS.
These devices were stationed along India’s border with China, each providing coverage of up to 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) of range and 800 meters (2,625 feet) of elevation.
