14 - 08 - 2026

BEL Eyes Global Markets for India’s Indigenous 30 kW Laser-Directed Energy Weapon

Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) is looking to take India’s indigenous Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) technology to international defence markets, potentially opening a new export avenue for one of the country’s most advanced counter-drone systems.

The move builds on the successful demonstration of the Mk-II(A) Laser DEW, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and tested at the National Open Air Range (NOAR) in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, in April 2025. During the demonstration, the system showcased its ability to engage fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles, counter multiple drone threats and damage surveillance sensors and antennae.

The weapon employs a 30 kW-class high-energy laser, representing a major step in India’s development of directed-energy systems. Unlike conventional interceptors, which rely on physical projectiles or missiles, a laser DEW delivers concentrated energy to a target at the speed of light, allowing extremely rapid engagement once the target has been detected and tracked.

DRDO said the successful demonstration placed India among a limited group of countries with demonstrated high-power laser-DEW capabilities. The system was developed by DRDO’s Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS), Hyderabad, with contributions from other DRDO laboratories, academic institutions and more than 15 Indian industries.

The technology has particular relevance as militaries worldwide confront the proliferation of relatively inexpensive drones and drone swarms. Conventional missiles can be disproportionately expensive when used against low-cost aerial targets, creating demand for alternative systems capable of providing rapid and economical engagements.

The Mk-II(A)’s demonstration included engagement of fixed-wing drones at range, countering a multiple-drone attack and disabling surveillance equipment. DRDO described the system’s combination of rapid engagement and precision as a significant counter-drone capability.

For BEL, taking such technology towards international markets could extend India’s defence-export ambitions beyond conventional platforms and electronics into high-energy directed weapons. The state-owned defence electronics major already plays a significant role in India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem, making it a natural potential industrial partner for scaling and commercialising advanced indigenous systems.

The strategic importance of the technology extends beyond exports. Directed-energy weapons could become an important component of layered air defence, particularly for countering drones and other suitable aerial threats where rapid response and repeated engagements are required.

The DRDO has described the Mk-II(A) programme as a product of India’s broader indigenous defence ecosystem. Its May 2025 newsletter noted that critical subsystems and components were developed indigenously by CHESS, sister DRDO laboratories, academic institutions and more than 15 Indian industries, with CHESS responsible for system design, integration and the high-power laser beam technology.

BEL’s reported interest in taking the technology global therefore marks a potential transition from indigenous development to international defense commercialisation. If this is successfully produced and exported, India’s laser-DEW capability could emerge as another important element of the country’s evolving “Make in India, Make for the World” defense strategy.

By Subramanya Joshi