DRDO’s 30kW ‘Sahastra Shakti’ Laser Weapon Set for User Trials in 2025
India is set to take a major leap in futuristic defence capabilities as the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) prepares its indigenous 30-kilowatt laser-based Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) — codenamed ‘Sahastra Shakti’ — for user trials later this year. Designed to neutralize drones, sensors, and low-flying aerial threats, this system marks a significant stride in India’s efforts to develop high-precision, cost-effective weaponry for the future battlefield.
Developed by DRDO’s Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS), located in Hyderabad, the system recently completed a round of successful internal demonstrations. According to defence sources, it is now ready for trials with operational users, including the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The Weapon Behind the Name
The Sahastra Shakti laser is a second-generation system, officially designated as the Mk-II(A) DEW, and is a significant upgrade over earlier prototypes. It uses multiple 5kW fiber laser modules, combining them to produce a continuous wave beam with a total output of 30kW. Mounted on a mobile platform, this weapon is capable of tracking, locking, and engaging targets up to 5 kilometers away.
This class of weaponry, which uses high-intensity laser beams to destroy or disable targets without using traditional kinetic ammunition, is particularly effective against small drones, UAV swarms, surveillance balloons, and even soft-skinned ground targets.
At its core, the system features:
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360-degree Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) tracking turret
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Advanced beam-directing optics with automated targeting and kill-assessment
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Integrated radar and sensor suite for detection and cueing
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Truck-mounted mobility for rapid deployment and coverage of forward areas
Power, Precision, and Speed
The standout advantage of DEWs like Sahastra Shakti lies in their near-instantaneous target engagement. Unlike missiles or bullets, which take seconds to reach their targets, a laser beam travels at the speed of light — hitting the object almost as soon as it’s detected and tracked. This gives laser weapons a vital edge in intercepting fast-moving threats such as kamikaze drones or swarm UAVs.
In successful field demonstrations conducted at DRDO’s National Open Air Range (NOAR) in Kurnool, the Sahastra Shakti DEW was able to disable reconnaissance drones, burn out their sensors, and structurally damage small UAVs in a matter of seconds. Targets were engaged at varying distances, ranging between 3.5 and 5 km, validating the system’s effectiveness in realistic threat environments.
The Strategic Significance
Directed Energy Weapons are no longer the stuff of science fiction. Countries like the United States, China, Russia, and Israel have already begun inducting laser-based systems into their armed forces for roles such as drone defence and base protection. With Sahastra Shakti, India is now stepping into this elite club of nations that possess operationally viable laser weapon technology.
What makes laser weapons especially attractive to militaries is their cost-efficiency. Once installed, a DEW system’s cost per shot is significantly lower than traditional missiles or ammunition — often equating to just the cost of electricity required to power the laser. Moreover, there is no ammunition stockpile to maintain or reload time, which means sustained operation during swarm drone attacks or border infiltrations is feasible.
This is particularly relevant in the context of recent conflicts, where inexpensive commercial drones have been used to overwhelm air defence systems. A laser weapon provides a clean, quiet, and scalable response to such threats, without the logistical burden of rearming.
Scaling Up the Future
According to DRDO officials, the Sahastra Shakti platform is only the beginning. Work is already underway to develop more powerful DEWs in the 50kW–100kW class, which will be capable of neutralizing faster and more heavily built aerial targets, including cruise missiles and rocket artillery.
Beyond that, DRDO is planning a next-generation 300kW laser platform, reportedly under the project name "Surya", which could provide longer-range area denial capabilities. This future system is expected to be integrated with naval vessels, airbases, and space-based platforms — dramatically expanding India’s layered defence grid.
Additionally, the organisation is exploring the use of high-power microwave weapons and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) systems, which would complement laser weapons by targeting electronics and communications rather than physical structures.
Private Sector Entry and Operationalization
To accelerate production and deployment, DRDO is expected to transfer technology to private sector defence firms under its 2025 tech-transfer policy. This move will allow for faster scaling of the system, localized manufacturing of subsystems, and possible integration with existing air defence networks.
User trials with the Army, Navy, and Air Force are expected to focus on real-world validation of tracking accuracy, target discrimination, and weapon endurance under different terrain and weather conditions. Upon successful trials, the system could be inducted for critical infrastructure protection — including airfields, ammunition depots, forward operating bases, and border surveillance zones.
The upcoming trials of DRDO’s 30kW Sahastra Shakti DEW represent not just a milestone in Indian military R&D, but a broader shift toward energy-based, precision warfare. As drones, loitering munitions, and low-cost threats proliferate, India’s ability to counter them with a clean, cost-effective laser system will offer both tactical and strategic advantages.
In a future battlefield increasingly defined by speed, saturation, and electronic warfare, the silent beam of Sahastra Shakti may well become one of India's most potent shields.
