DURGA II Laser Weapon

DURGA II Laser Weapon:

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has sought USD 100 million from the Ministry of Defence to develop a high-power laser weapon, named Directionally Unrestricted Ray-Gun Array (DURGA) II, a lightweight directed energy weapon (DEW).

• It is a 100-kilowatt lightweight DEW and can be used by armed forces.
• It aims to provide the Indian armed forces with cutting-edge technology capable of neutralising various threats, including drones, missiles, and artillery shells.
• Directed-Energy Weapons (DEWs) is a type of weapon system that emits highly focused energy, typically in the form of lasers, microwaves, or particle beams, to incapacitate or destroy targets.
• Unlike traditional firearms or explosives which rely on kinetic energy (physical impact), DEWs use directed energy to achieve their effects.
• Types:
  • Laser Weapons: It uses a concentrated beam of coherent light to heat and damage the target.
    They can be used for various purposes, including target destruction, missile defence, and disabling electronics.
  • Microwave Weapons: They emit electromagnetic radiation in the microwave frequency range to disrupt or damage electronic systems, such as computers, sensors, or communication devices.
  • Particle Beam Weapons: They accelerate charged or neutral particles to high velocities and direct them towards the target to cause damage through kinetic energy transfer or ionisation effects.
• It has advantages including precision targeting, rapid engagement, reduced collateral damage, and potentially lower costs per shot.
• DEWs are believed to be the sole answer to virtually ‘unstoppable’ hypersonic missiles.
• They have applications in military defence, homeland security, space exploration, and law enforcement.
• It transmits lethal force at the speed of light.
• These weapons are not affected by the constraining effects of gravity or atmospheric drag, making them extremely precise.