Integrated Drone Detection & Interdiction System

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Integrated Drone Detection & Interdiction System (IDD&IS)
Type Laser weapon
Place of originIndia
Service history
In service2024–present [1]
Used by Corps of Army Air Defence
Production history
Designer Defence Research and Development Organisation
Designed2012–present
Manufacturer Bharat 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.

Contents

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]

The Indian Army released the 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 had to be integrated with the existing air defence weapons. [7]

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 [8] [9] for a range of 3.5 km in hot, extreme weather conditions. User trials would reportedly take 1–1.5 years. [10] 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. [10] [5]

A 5 kW laser DEW was tested as part of the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System on 23 August 2025. [11] [12]

Apollo Microsystems, on 22 December, received approvals for two technology transfer for 10 kW Laser DEW system from CHESS and EO tracking system from IRDE. [13]

Variants

Service history

The Ministry of Defense released a request for proposals in November 2022 to purchase nine IDD&IS units. [17] 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] [10]

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. [18] The Army also planned to procure nine additional units under emergency procurement. [18] 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. [19]

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] [20] Earlier, reports in November 2025, indicated Indian Army and Indian Air Force's bid to initially induct 16 IDD&IS Mk-II systems. [21] [22]

Operators

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "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. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 Sharma, Shivani (26 February 2025). "Army seeks advanced drone detection system to counter aerial threats". India Today. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  8. "DRDO tests directed energy weapon system that can disable drones, missiles". The Hindu. 13 April 2025. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  9. 1 2 3 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.
  10. 1 2 3 "India tests laser system to destroy aerial targets". The Times of India. 14 April 2025. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  11. 1 2 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.
  12. 1 2 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.
  13. 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.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "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. 1 2 3 "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. 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.
  17. "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.
  18. 1 2 3 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.
  19. "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.
  20. 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.
  21. 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.
  22. "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.
  23. "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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