Integrated Drone Detection & Interdiction System

Integrated Drone Detection & Interdiction System (IDD&IS)
TypeLaser weapon
Place of originIndia
Service history
In service2024–present[1]
Used byCorps of Army Air Defence
Production history
DesignerDefence Research and Development Organisation
Designed2012–present
ManufacturerBharat Electronics[2]

The Integrated Drone Detection & Interdiction System (IDD&IS) is a series of laser weapons being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation for the Indian Armed Forces.

Development

A 2012 research paper had paved the way for the development of an indigenous laser weapon in India.[3] The requirement of a similar system was mentioned in the defence ministry's 2013 Technology Perspective & Capability Roadmap and the government had confirmed that the research on the matter had commenced at the Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences, and Laser Science and Technology Centre.[4]

By 2015, LASTEC completed the development of a unit of 1 kW 'single mode fibre laser' and was engaged in the further development of 5 kW and 9 kW fibre laser sources.[4]

Towards the end of August 2017, India conducted its first successful test of a directed-energy weapon. The weapon was a 1 kW class laser weapon in a truck-mounted configuration from the Chitradurga Aeronautical Test Range in Karnataka. In the test witnessed by the then defence minister, Arun Jaitley, the laser beam hit its target at a distance of 250 m (820 ft) and it took 36 seconds to "make a hole into the metal sheet". The weapon was a technology demonstrator and was to be followed by a 2 kW laser weapon with an expected range of 1 km (0.62 mi). Meanwhile, the core of the weapon system, the laser source, was being imported from Germany. By then, LASTEC had also developed a 10 kW chemical oxygen iodine laser and was developing a 30–100 kW "gas dynamic high power laser-based DEW" under Project Aditya.[4]

As of May 2024, DRDO was developing laser-DEW systems of a 30–50 kW range under its short, medium and long-term goals.[1]

In early September 2024, it was reported that the Indian Navy conducted trials of a 2 kW DEW from a naval warship. Similar trials of a 10 kW DEW was planned.[5][6]

On 13 April 2025, DRDO successfully conducted the trials of the truck-mounted Mk-II(A) laser-DEW system, India's first high-power laser weapon. During the trials, the system engaged a fixed-wing drone at long range as well as deterred a seven-drone swarm attack and destroyed enemy surveillance sensors and antennae. The system demonstrated a high speed of engagement, accuracy and destroyed the target in seconds. The cost to engage for a few seconds was equivalent to the cost of few litres of petrol. The system can engage its target once detected by a radar or its integral EO system. The CHESS-developed system was tested at the National Open Air Range, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh[7][8] for a range of 3.5 km in hot, extreme weather conditions. User trials would reportedly take 1–1.5 years.[9] It is codenamed Sahastra Shakti and is powered by 6 individual 5 kW laser sources in a 2×3 configuration.[3]

As of then, DRDO is also developing laser-DEW systems of a 50–100 kW range along with microwave-based DEW under its revised short, medium and long-term goals.[9][5]

A 5 kW laser DEW was tested as part of the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System on 23 August 2025.[10][11]

On 22 December 2025, Apollo Microsystems received technology transfer for CHESS 10 kW Laser DEW system and IRDE EO tracking system.[12]

The Indian Army released a request for information for the acquisition of an IDD&IS Mark II A in February 2026. The weapon's requirement was laid out by the Directorate General of Army Air Defence, and it is supposed be integrated with the existing air defence weapons.[13]

Variants

  • IDD&IS Mk-I: 2 kW laser source with a hard kill range of 0.8–1 km (0.50–0.62 mi) and soft kill range of 2–5 km (1.2–3.1 mi) by jamming. Detection range: 5–8 km (3.1–5.0 mi). Deployed by the Indian Army.[1]
  • IDD&IS Mk-II: 10 kW laser source with a range of 2 km (1.2 mi).[14] Cleared for induction by the defence ministry.[15]
  • 5 kW laser weapon: A 5 kW laser weapon forms a part of the IADWS.[10][11]
  • IDD&IS Mk-IIA:[16] Also called, Mk-II (A) Laser-DEW[8] or Sahastra Shakti, it is a 30 kW class laser weapon powered by 6 individual 5 kW laser sources in a 2×3 configuration.[15][17] It has a range of 5 km (3.1 mi) integrated with 360° EO/IR sensors and electronic warfare capability. Effective against fixed-wing aircraft, swarm drones as well as missiles.[8] In production.[14]
  • DRDO Surya: 300 kW laser source with a range of 20 km (12 mi).[14]

Service history

The Ministry of Defense released a request for proposals in November 2022 to purchase nine IDD&IS units.[18] In March 2024, the Indian Army's Corps of Army Air Defence had inducted the first lot of seven IDD&IS into service.[1] India has reportedly placed an order for 23 such systems for ₹400 crore (US$47 million).[1][9]

On 13 April 2025, it was reported that the Indian Army's IDD&IS Mk 1 had intercepted a Chinese origin, Pakistan Army-operated drone in the area of responsibility of the XVI Corps,[14] southwards of the Pir Panjal Range.[19] The Army also planned to procure nine additional units under emergency procurement.[19] Bharat Electronics, and the Corps of Army Air Defence signed an agreement for the IDD&IS on 16 May 2025, as part of a larger ₹572 crore (US$68 million) contract.[20]

On 29 December 2025, the Defence Acquisition Council, functioning under the Ministry of Defence and the chairmanship of the defence minister, Rajnath Singh, cleared the procurement of IDD&IS Mk-II for the Indian Army.[15][21] Earlier, reports in November 2025, indicated Indian Army and Indian Air Force's bid to initially induct 16 IDD&IS Mk-II systems.[22][23]

Operators

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Army inducts first lot of desi anti-drone systems for China border deployment". The Times of India. 21 March 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  2. ^ Rout, Hemant Kumar (13 May 2025). "Game-changer: How India's homegrown Iron Dome made a Pakistan-drone-crushing debut". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  3. ^ a b Pubby, Manu (15 April 2025). "ET Graphics: A decade in the making, India's first high-powered laser weapon". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  4. ^ a b c Gurung, Shaurya Karanbir (7 December 2017). "India gets a step closer to laser weaponry as DRDO successfully tests laser system". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Archived from the original on 1 January 2026. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  5. ^ a b "Indian Navy Successfully Conducts Trials of 2 kW DEW System". raksha-anirveda.com. 4 September 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  6. ^ "Indian Navy Conducts Trials of 2-KW Directed Energy Weapon (DEW)". Indian Defence News. 4 September 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  7. ^ "DRDO tests directed energy weapon system that can disable drones, missiles". The Hindu. 13 April 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  8. ^ a b c Philip, Snehesh Alex (13 April 2025). "'Star Wars tech': DRDO showcases 30 KW laser-based weapon to take down helicopters, swarm drones". ThePrint. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  9. ^ a b c "India tests laser system to destroy aerial targets". The Times of India. 14 April 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  10. ^ a b Dutta, Amrita Nayak (26 August 2025). "'Sudarshan Chakra' will be India's shield and sword, but needs massive integration, says CDS Anil Chauhan". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 2 January 2026. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  11. ^ a b Trivedi, Saurabh (24 August 2025). "DRDO successfully conducts maiden flight tests of Integrated Air Defence Weapon System". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  12. ^ Kumar, N. Ravi (22 December 2025). "Apollo Micro Systems gets access to two Directed Energy Weapon Systems tech of DRDO". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
  13. ^ Sharma, Shivani (26 February 2025). "Army seeks advanced drone detection system to counter aerial threats". India Today. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  14. ^ a b c d "Indian Army uses new DRDO laser to neutralise Chinese drone near LoC". The Economic Times. 13 April 2025. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  15. ^ a b c "DAC clears proposals worth Rs 79,000 crore to enhance the capabilities of the Armed Forces" (Press release). Press Information Bureau. 29 December 2025. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  16. ^ Sharma, Shivani (26 February 2025). "Army seeks advanced drone detection system to counter aerial threats". India Today. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  17. ^ Lateef, Samaan (14 April 2025). "India develops 'Star Wars' laser gun to shoot down drones". telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 January 2026. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  18. ^ "REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL BY MINISTRY OF DEFENCE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA FOR PROCUREMENT OF INTEGRATED DRONE DETECTION AND INTERDICTION SYSTEM (IMPROVED VERSION)" (PDF). mod.gov.in. 22 November 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  19. ^ a b c Dubey, Ajit (18 April 2025). "Army to acquire 9 more Laser-based counter-drone systems for deployment along Pak, China borders". ANI News. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  20. ^ "BEL signs contract with Army for Indigenous Counter-Drone System, secures orders worth Rs 572 crore". ANI News. 16 May 2025. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  21. ^ Philip, Snehesh Alex (29 December 2025). "200 km+ range Astra missile, 120 km range Pinaka rockets on shopping list as MoD clears Rs 79,000 cr proposals". ThePrint. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  22. ^ Dubey, Ajit (16 November 2025). "Indian Army, IAF to induct 16 laser based anti drone systems with 2 km range". ANI News. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  23. ^ "Boost for counter-drone warfare: Army, IAF to deploy new indigenous systems; DRDO readies next-gen weapons". The Times of India. 16 November 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  24. ^ "Army to acquire 9 more Laser-based counter-drone systems for deployment along Pakistan, China borders". The Economic Times. 18 April 2025. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
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