DRDO Releases Technology Transfer for 30kW Laser Weapon System, Three Licences Available

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has issued an Expression of Interest (EoI) to transfer the technology of its 30 kW Laser Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) system to Indian industry. The offer, released by DRDO’s Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS), includes three licences for qualified vendors.

The 30 kW laser system is developed as a counter-drone platform that brings together drone-detection radar, RF sensors and EO-IR tracking equipment. It uses a high-energy laser to disable drones at a range of three to four kilometres. The system is mounted on a mobile platform and is intended for use around military bases and other sensitive areas where drone activity is a concern.

The DEW has completed several field trials over the past year, showing the ability to track and neutralise different types of drones. It has been developed under DRDO’s MK-2(A) laser programme and uses a modular design in which multiple laser modules are combined to produce the 30 kW output.

Offering the system for technology transfer is aimed at involving private industry in production and building domestic capability in high-energy laser systems, power electronics, optics and precision tracking. DRDO expects this step to support future manufacturing and reduce dependence on imports in this category of defence technology.

The EoI invites companies to submit proposals showing their technical capacity and readiness to absorb the technology. After evaluation, DRDO will select three companies to receive licences and begin preparations for production. Initial manufacturing arrangements are expected within the next 12 to 18 months.

Officials familiar with the programme indicate that DRDO is also working on higher-power laser systems in development, but the 30 kW system is the first being offered for wider industrial production.

With this move, the 30 kW laser DEW becomes one of the first high-energy laser systems in India to be opened for industry participation and future large-scale deployment.