2. Defense and DEW Programs
India's directed energy weapons (DEW) programs are among the most developed in Asia, spanning laser weapons, high-power microwave (HPM) systems, and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapons. These programs are managed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) through specialized laboratories including the Laser Science and Technology Centre (LASTEC), the Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS), the Microwave Tube Research and Development Centre (MTRDC), and the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL). This chapter examines each DEW program in detail, with particular attention to the distinction between conventional directed energy weapons and plasma orb weapons.
2.1 Laser DEW Programs
LASTEC (est. 2000), the Laser Science and Technology Centre in Delhi, is DRDO's lead laboratory for laser weapon development. LASTEC leads the DURGA-II program and has been central to India's laser DEW roadmap since its establishment. The 100 kW laser demonstration at Hindon Air Force Station in 2001 marked India's first major public laser weapon milestone.
DURGA-II (est. 2015), the Directionally Unrestricted Ray-Gun Array, is a classified 100 kW modular laser system designed for integration on fighter aircraft, naval destroyers, and armored vehicles. DURGA-II represents the evolution of India's laser DEW capability beyond the 30 kW class into weapons-grade power levels. The program is led by LASTEC under DRDO sponsorship.
Surya (est. 2010) is a planned 300 kW laser DEW class, envisioned as a technological stepping stone toward ground-based satellite neutralization capabilities. The Surya program represents the upper end of India's laser DEW power scaling roadmap, evolving from the DURGA-II baseline.
Mk-II(A) (est. 2010) is a 30 kW laser directed energy weapon developed by CHESS. The system was successfully tested in April 2025, destroying drones and surveillance sensors at ranges exceeding 3 km. The Mk-II(A) represents India's most operationally mature laser DEW, with demonstrated counter-UAS capability.
CHESS (est. 2010), the Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences in Hyderabad, is the lead developer of the Mk-II(A) laser DEW. CHESS specializes in high-energy laser systems and directed energy weapon integration.
2.2 Pulsed Power and Electron Beam Systems
KALI-5000 (est. 2004), the Kilo Ampere Linear Injector, is a 40 GW pulsed electron beam accelerator developed by BARC with DRDO involvement. The system delivers 1 MeV electron beams at 80 kA with 100 ns pulse duration. KALI-5000 was commissioned in 2004 and is recorded in IAEA documentation. While sometimes described as a "plasma weapon" in popular media, KALI-5000 is a pulsed electron beam accelerator designed for electromagnetic pulse generation and materials testing, not a plasma orb or plasma ring weapon.
2.3 High-Power Microwave and EMP Weapons
HPM DEW (est. 1990) is a High-Power Microwave directed energy weapon system developed by MTRDC. The system operates in the S-band with 450 MW peak power and 20 ns pulse duration. In testing, the HPM DEW disabled DJI Phantom quadcopters at ranges up to 1 km, demonstrating counter-UAS capability through electronic disruption rather than kinetic effects.
MTRDC (est. 1990), the Microwave Tube Research and Development Centre in Bangalore, develops microwave source technologies for DEW applications. MTRDC's HPM program represents India's capability in non-kinetic electronic warfare.
E-bomb (est. 2000) is an electromagnetic bomb designed to emit electromagnetic shock waves that destroy enemy electronic circuits and communication networks. The E-bomb was developed at Research Centre Imarat (RCI) under DRDO sponsorship. In 2018, India's Innovation for Defence Excellence (iDEX) program issued a challenge for EMP payload development for counter-UAS operations, building on the E-bomb concept. Former DRDO chief Avinash Chander publicly confirmed the E-bomb program.
RCI (est. 1988), Research Centre Imarat in Hyderabad, is the site of DRDO's E-bomb development. RCI specializes in missile guidance systems and electromagnetic warfare technologies.
2.4 TBRL and Directed Energy Testing
TBRL, the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory in Chandigarh, is a DRDO laboratory involved in weapons effects testing and terminal ballistics research. TBRL supports the DEW programs by conducting lethality and effects testing for laser and microwave weapons against various targets. The laboratory provides the experimental infrastructure for validating DEW performance against representative threat targets.