Is The Era Of Directed Energy Weapons Finally Here? – Analysis – Eurasia Review

By Prateek Tripathi

Though the interest in Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs) has been around for a long time, it is only recently that significant advancements have happened in the field. The United States (US) government has been pouring billions of dollars into DEWs over the years, and the technology is now finally in a position to pay dividends. Far from residing in the realm of science fiction, DEWs are fast becoming a reality. India has also been investing in DEWs, which have now acquired an increasing importance due to the fact that they present a viable counter-measure to Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and, potentially, even hypersonic weapons. 

What are DEWs?

As per the US Department of Defence (DOD), DEWs use concentrated electromagnetic energy, rather than kinetic energy like conventional weapons, to “incapacitate, damage, disable or destroy enemy equipment, facilities, and/or personnel.” Different DEWs can be obtained depending on the part of the electromagnetic spectrum being utilised. The most prominent ones are high-energy lasers (HEL) and high-powered microwaves (HPM) weapons. Though other DEWs like particle beams do exist, they are still in early stages of development.

Different frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum have been in military use ever since the invention of radio waves and, subsequently, the development of radars. This forms part of what is commonly known as “electronic warfare,” which also includes systems meant to jam or spoof communication receivers, radars and missile seekers. The advantage with DEWs is that they significantly expand the range of electronic warfare, not to mention traditional kinetic weapons like guns and missiles. 

HELs can engage fast-moving targets at a greater range than HPMs, but are only applicable to a single target at a time. HPMs, on the other hand, have a much broader impact area and can engage multiple targets simultaneously, provided they are within the range of coverage. So, while HELs can be employed for individual targets like missiles, satellites and optical sensors in autonomous systems, HPMs can be used to for widespread targets like swarm drones and missile salvos, in addition to disabling enemy electronics and communication systems.  

Although there is no consensus regarding the precise power level that would be needed to neutralise different target sets, it seems plausible that HELs with a power of around 100 kW (kilowatt) could engage UAS, small boats, rockets, artillery, and mortars, whereas those around 300 kW could additionally engage cruise missiles flying in certain profiles (i.e., flying across—rather than at—the laser). Lasers of 1 MW (megawatt) could potentially neutralise ballistic missiles and hypersonic weapons.

Global Scenario

United States

The development of DEWs picked up pace in the US during the Reagan administration in the 1980s, which sought to defend the US against Soviet missiles through more powerful laser weapons as part of the Strategic Defense Initiative, later dubbed “Star Wars”. Eventually, however, the initiative did not pan out and resulted in a costly failure, though it did lay the groundwork for future efforts in the field.

In recent years, the US Department of Defense (DoD) has been spending an average of more than US$1 billion on DEWs, typically HELs and HPMs. It has requested approximately US$ 789.7 million for unclassified DEW programmes in FY2025—down from its US$ 962.4 million request and US $1.1 billion appropriation in FY2024. DOD’s Directed Energy roadmap outlines its plan to increase power levels of DEWs from around 150 kW, as is currently feasible, to 500 kW—with reduced size and weight—by FY2025. DOD seeks “to further reduce size and weight and increase power to MW levels by FY2026.” In addition to the Directed Energy roadmap, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering manages the High Energy Laser Scaling Initiative (HELSI), which is intended to strengthen the defence-industrial base for potential future DEWs by providing near-term prototyping opportunities for industry partners. 

Deployed DEW systems

However, their numbers are quite limited at the moment, eight ODINs on Navy destroyers, one HELIOS, one Solid State Laser on a landing platform dock, five CLaWs, three HELWS in an undisclosed location and one THOR, adding up to 19 DEWs. 

China

China has been developing DEWs since at least the late 1980s and has reportedly developed a 30kW road-mobile HEL, the LW – 30, designed to engage UAS and precision-guided weapons. According to reports, it is also developing an airborne HEL pod. According to the US Defense Intelligence Agency, China likely already has a limited capability to employ HELs that can counter low-orbit space-based sensors and may possess DEW systems that pose a threat to non-optical satellites by the mid-to-late 2020s. 

Russia

Russia has been conducting DEW research since the 1960s, with a particular emphasis on HELs. It has reportedly deployed the Peresvet ground-based HEL with several mobile intercontinental ballistic missile units. Although little is publicly known about Peresvet, including its power level, some analysts assert it is to dazzle satellites and provide point defense against UAS. Russia’s deputy defense minister Alexei Krivoruchko has stated that efforts are underway to increase Peresvet’s power level and to deploy it on military aircraft. Reports suggest that Russia may also be developing HPMs as well as additional HELs capable of performing antisatellite missions. 

Other militaries are catching up

The United Kingdom successfully fired its DragonFire HEL weapon in January 2024, which is the culmination of a £100 million investment by the country to date. Following the October 7 attacks by Hamas, Israel has sought to expedite the development of its own Iron Beam laser weapon to help shoot down incoming rockets and drones, augmenting the kinetic interceptors of its Iron Dome missile defence system. Countries like France, Turkey, Iran, South Korea and Japan have also been investing in their own DEW programmes.  

Indian initiatives

Though there has been no official declaration by the Indian military, multiple sources have reported that DEWs are indeed a part of India’s security architecture. India’s foray into DEWs primarily began with a classified project called “Tri-Netra,” which was implemented by the Delhi-based Laser Science and Technology Centre (LASTEC). In 2001, LASTEC achieved a full-scale technology demonstration at the Hindon air base, wherein a 100 kW laser beam was shot and managed to fully disintegrate a steel-plated target. Since 2018, LASTEC’s work has been gradually divided between CHESS and Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) at Chandigarh. The TBRL’s work was later delegated to the Dehradun-based Instruments Research and Development Establishment (IRDE). 

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and its adjunct, the Hyderabad-based Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS), are playing a key role in developing DEWs, with several other entities like the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and the Army Design Bureau (ADB) also being involved in different DEW programmes. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has been entrusted with the manufacturing and supply of these weapons. BEL has succeeded in producing a 2 kW laser-based DEW, meant for countering new, asymmetric and disruptive threats like drones and UAS. Reports also suggest that the products of classified programmes like KALI (Kilo Ampere Linear Injector) and DURGA (Directionally Unrestricted Ray-Gun Array) have already been inducted into the armed forces. 

Conclusion

With the pace at which autonomous vehicles and weapons are growing, there is a pressing need to have viable counter-measures in place. In this context, DEWs present a potentially viable option. Though progress in the field had been quite slow, it has now gathered momentum, particularly over the past few years. India has been investing in the technology and has made decent progress. Yet, much more needs to be done. Given the persistent threat posed by its neighbours, particularly China and its vast technological prowess, India’s defence needs to be prepared to deal with the inevitable threat posed by both autonomous and hypersonic weapons, and DEWs just happen to offer one such solution. 

• About the author: Prateek Tripathi is a Research Assistant at the Observer Research Foundation.
• Source: This article was published at the Observer Research Foundation.