Revolutionizing Defense: India's DRDO Develops Cost-Effective Durga 2 Laser Weapon

In the realm of defense technology, Israel's Iron Dome system, also known as Israel's Air Defense system, has been a game-changer. This weapon system can intercept and destroy incoming enemy missiles. However, a significant drawback is that the cost of firing an Iron Dome missile to intercept an incoming missile, which could be worth $50,000, is approximately $100,000. This shortcoming has led India's Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) to develop its own air defense system, focusing on a laser weapon named Durga 2.

Durga 2 is a laser weapon that India is developing to counter ballistic missiles. The most striking feature of this weapon is its cost-effectiveness. According to reports, the Durga 2 laser weapon can neutralize an incoming missile, drone, or rocket for just $5. This means that a missile worth $50,000 can be destroyed by the Durga 2 laser weapon for a mere $50.

Let's delve deeper into the Durga 2 weapon and understand why India's DRDO is working on this laser weapon, and what benefits it could bring to India.

The Durga 2 weapon is a Directed Energy Weapon (DEW), a technology that DRDO has been working on for many years. Recently, DRDO's laboratory, the Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS), issued an Expression of Interest inviting private players to participate in the design and development of a large aperture control system for a high power laser beam. The ultimate aim of DRDO is to use this laser weapon in its air defense system.

The need for such a system became evident when Israel used its Iron Dome system to intercept missiles and drones launched by Iran. While the Iron Dome system was successful in intercepting most of the incoming projectiles, the cost analysis revealed that the cost of intercepting these projectiles was five times higher than the cost of the attack itself. This led experts to conclude that the cost of defending against such attacks could be prohibitively high.

The Durga 2 laser weapon is India's answer to this challenge. By developing a cost-effective laser weapon, India can counter potential attacks from countries like Pakistan and China. While India has the S400 air defense system, which works similarly to the Iron Dome, it is expensive. Moreover, the S400 system may not be able to counter all incoming missiles. Therefore, DRDO is working on its own laser weapon to complement the S400 system.

The Durga 2 laser weapon is a 25-kilowatt laser beam that can destroy incoming ballistic missiles at a distance of 5 kilometers. Experts believe that the range of this weapon could be extended to 100 kilometers, making it possible to destroy incoming missiles from a greater distance. This would significantly enhance India's air defense capabilities.

DRDO is not alone in developing such a weapon. Recently, the UK launched its Dragonfire laser weapon, which can destroy drones and missiles. The cost of destroying a missile with this weapon is just $13, making it a cost-effective solution for air defense. Similarly, the US has developed the Helios laser weapon, which has a power of 60 kilowatts and can destroy incoming aircraft from a great distance.

In conclusion, the Durga 2 laser weapon is a significant development in India's defense capabilities. By developing a cost-effective laser weapon, India can counter potential attacks from its adversaries while keeping the cost of defense under control. The development of such weapons is a trend that is likely to continue in the future, as countries seek to enhance their air defense capabilities in a cost-effective manner.