India’s ‘Surya’ Laser Weapon: DRDO to Develop 300kW Directed-Energy System with 20km Range by 2027

India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has officially set its sights on building one of the most powerful homegrown laser weapons to date — a 300-kilowatt (kW) directed-energy weapon named ‘Surya’, expected to be tested and ready by the year 2027. This step puts India among an elite group of nations like the United States, China, and Russia that are advancing high-energy laser weapons for the future of warfare.

What is Surya?

Surya is designed as a Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) — a system that uses highly focused energy, in this case, a powerful laser beam, to disable or destroy enemy aerial targets like drones, UAVs, and potentially even missiles. Unlike conventional weapons, laser weapons travel at the speed of light, hit with pinpoint accuracy, and can engage multiple targets without running out of ammunition.

With a planned 20-kilometre range, the Surya system will be capable of detecting, tracking, and destroying fast-moving threats in the sky, making it ideal for modern battlefield and border security scenarios.

Key Specifications of the Surya Laser Weapon:

• Type: Ground-based Directed Energy Weapon (DEW)

• Laser Power Output: 300 kilowatts (kW), continuous wave

• Range: Up to 20 kilometres (effective against drones and aerial threats)

• Beam Director Aperture: 60 cm (helps focus laser over long distances)

• Beam Quality: Rated < 2 MQ (ensures high-precision targeting)

• Mobility: Mounted on two 8x8 military trucks, with a third for command and control operations

• Modular Design: Future-ready; can scale up to higher power levels (possibly megawatt-class) by combining multiple laser modules

Technology Behind Surya

To achieve such a powerful and accurate system, DRDO is combining several next-gen technologies developed indigenously:

• High-Energy Laser Generation: Uses Centrifugal Bubble Singlet Oxygen Generator (SOG) technology to create a stable and high-quality laser beam.

• Power Efficiency Systems: Incorporates sealed exhausts and supersonic nozzles to optimize performance and reduce energy waste.

• Precision Tracking and Lock-On: Advanced electro-optical sensors and radar systems enable fast target detection and precise engagement over long distances.

• Atmospheric Distortion Compensation: Adaptive optics and beam shaping technologies help adjust the laser beam in real-time to maintain accuracy, even in turbulent air.

• Centralized Beam Control: A highly integrated system controls targeting, power delivery, and beam steering — all in sync to neutralize moving targets in seconds.

Why It Matters

The Surya laser system will offer India significant strategic advantages. Unlike missiles or guns, it does not rely on explosive ammunition, has near-zero per-shot cost once powered, and can respond instantly to threats. In the future, it could also be adapted for naval or airborne platforms, greatly expanding its role.

This initiative not only strengthens India’s defensive capabilities but also aligns with the goal of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) in high-tech military innovations.

With the successful development of Surya by 2027, India is expected to leap ahead in the field of advanced energy weapons — building a futuristic defence shield that can protect against next-generation aerial threats, quickly and effectively.