Indian Startup Carbine Systems Conducts First Indoor Tests of 10 kW Laser Weapon H.A.R.A Mk 1

Belagavi, India : India-based aerospace and defence startup Carbine Systems has quietly announced the successful indoor testing of its first directed-energy weapon (DEW) prototype, the H.A.R.A. Mk 1 (Hyper Amplification Radiant Array). The development marks an early but notable step by a private Indian firm into the field of high-energy laser weapons.

The H.A.R.A. Mk 1 is described by the company as a 10 kW-class laser system, intended for short-range precision engagements. According to Carbine Systems, the prototype is effective within a 1–2 kilometre engagement range, consistent with early-stage tactical DEW demonstrators currently under development worldwide.

The recently completed trials were conducted indoors under controlled laboratory conditions. These tests focused on validating core laser generation, beam stability, and basic system functionality rather than operational endurance or field-level performance. The company has not released detailed technical parameters such as firing duration, thermal management data, or target profiles, which are typically refined during later development phases.

The successful testing of H.A.R.A. Mk 1 reflects the growing involvement of India’s private defence startups in advanced weapon technologies, an area long dominated by government research establishments. Policy support for indigenous development and private participation has encouraged smaller firms to explore niche but strategically important domains such as directed-energy systems.

Carbine Systems has not outlined a public roadmap for the programme. However, industry observers expect the next stages to include further system refinement, outdoor testing, and incremental performance upgrades before any potential integration or formal evaluation. For now, H.A.R.A. Mk 1 stands as an early demonstration of private-sector capability in India’s evolving directed-energy weapons landscape.