Laser/Beam weapons

[LETHALFORCE]

http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Land-Based-Air-Defence/India-Laser-Weapon-Systems-India.html

India Laser Weapon Systems (India), Laser weapon systems

Type
Laser weapon systems

Development
India is planning to develop laser weapon systems that can be Submarine, Surface Ship, Airborne and Land-Based to intercept an incoming missile launched from a distance of up to 2,000 km away. This development will be headed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) working with The Laser and Science Technology Centre (LASTEC).Initially the first system is expected to be associated with India's Anti-Ballistic Missile systems that are currently in development, the first laser will take at least 10 - 15 years to come on-line.It is assessed that the first of these systems will be designed to destroy ballistic missile targets carrying nuclear or conventional warheads in their boost phase. During an interview with the LASTEC Director Anil Kumar Maini in late August 2010, it was confirmed that India intends to use laser (Directed Energy Weapons - DEW) to engage an enemy missile in its boost and/or terminal phase.A project known simply as KALI was first identified as far back as 1985; this was a DRDO/BARC (Bhabha Atomic Research Centre) programme that finally started life in 1989. Although not in itself a laser weapon system as we know it today (August 2010), the potential for the system to fulfil the role as a military DEW system is still there. It is assessed that if weaponised, it is very likely that KALI would be integrated into the Ballistic Missile Defence programme PAD/AAD.India is today (August 2010), conducting tests on a developmental 25 kilowatt laser system to hit a missile during

 

[nrj]

How about having few later blocks of AURA equipped with Laser based BMD? Gentlemen, What you think?

 

[LETHALFORCE]

How about having few later blocks of AURA equipped with Laser based BMD? What you think guys?

If AURA can perform in a offensive role a defensive role maybe even easier??

 

[plugwater]

IMO its better to equip our satellites with this weapon than Aura.

 

[Agnostic_Indian]

Imo we should buy few s400's from russia to increase the our chances of success. but i think the production line is busy to take foreign orders.

 

[nrj]

If AURA can perform in a offensive role a defensive role maybe even easier??

I think so. Also DRDO/LASTEC will have to work closely with ADA to get this done. It'll not be any easy & will take time. They should kick it off soon so that in a decade or so we'll be close to actively induct such system.

USAF/USN FA-XX scheduled post-2025 will incorporate such laser based defense similar to what they have on YAL-1. However, miniaturizing mammoth system on YAL-1 into unmanned/manned fighter is challenging task indeed.

 

[nrj]

IMO its better to equip our satellites with this weapon than Aura.

Definitely we need such system on Satellites. But what if Sats are shot down?

AURA like aircraft will not be easy to detect & destroy. Airborne laser BMD will be a force multiplier.

 

[SHASH2K2]

Definitely we need such system on Satellites. But what if Sats are shot down?

AURA like aircraft will not be easy to detect & destroy. Airborne laser BMD will be a force multiplier.

If satellites are armed with Laser weapons they can definitely protect themself as well.

 

[plugwater]

Definitely we need such system on Satellites. But what if Sats are shot down?

AURA like aircraft will not be easy to detect & destroy. Airborne laser BMD will be a force multiplier.

Its easier to track UAVs than satellites. In 15 years radar technology will also be improved so that it wont be difficult to find our AURA.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Its easier to track UAVs than satellites. In 15 years radar technology will also be improved so that it wont be difficult to find our AURA.

UAV's are expendable and can be mass produced, even if they have a 33% success rate with the new radar tech they can still be cost effective.

 

[nrj]

If satellites are armed with Laser weapons they can definitely protect themself as well.

No doubt these offensive Satellites will be depending on many other Sats for data feeds, command synchronization. Even one Sat among the constellation of offensive/non-offensive satellites is successfully taken down, whole setup will stall. Also the survival rate of satellite against MIRVed Anti-Sat missiles is questionable.

Sat-based Laser system is no doubt trump card but we should also have non-space assets to arrest any unfortunate scenario. I'll not be surprised if something similar to YAL-1 comes up in IAF before fighter based laser system.

 

[Minghegy]

Russia has laser weapon research, I think you can seek the help from the Russian, Medvedev said Russia can share/export any advanced tech to India just a few days ago, it really is a shortcut.

 

[plugwater]

UAV's are expendable and can be mass produced, even if they have a 33% success rate with the new radar tech they can still be cost effective.

We are not talking about UAV alone, UAV equipped with this weapon wont be mass produced.

 

[Godless-Kafir]

I just love the way DRDO names our weapons. Light Combat Aircraft, Direct Energy Weapons etc., they dont play with the terms everything has to do with its application unlike in the west!

P.S. What is KALI?

 

[nrj]

Its easier to track UAVs than satellites. In 15 years radar technology will also be improved so that it wont be difficult to find our AURA.

Even if we consider powerful radar able to track AURA, Satellites can not beat maneuverability & countermeasures AURA will house. Non-space assets are essential.

 

[nrj]

I just love the way DRDO names our weapons. Light Combat Aircraft, Direct Energy Weapons etc., they dont play with the terms everything has to do with its application unlike in the west!

P.S. What is KALI?

Kilo Ampere Linear Injector.


I am waiting for something called 'Brahmastraa' !!

 

[plugwater]

Even if we consider powerful radar able to track AURA, Satellites can not beat maneuverability & countermeasures AURA will house. Non-space assets are essential.

Question would be how many laser based weapons we are planning to deploy? Combination of both space and non space assets will complement each other very well but satellite with this weapon will give us the advantage to use anytime. But in case of UAV they needed to be airborne and should be in range to intercept incoming missiles.

 

[nrj]

Question would be how many laser based weapons we are planning to deploy? Combination of both space and non space assets will complement each other very well but satellite with this weapon will give us the advantage to use anytime. But in case of UAV they needed to be airborne and should be in range to intercept incoming missiles.

I think airborne laser systems like AURA/YAL-1 will be inducted to keep them on active surveillance patrol.

Regarding range, It'll depend what type of laser system we'll employ.

So far Pulsed systems are successful. Combination of space & non-space assets will assure the kill. Because even if one system misses or achieves partial success, other system can complement & finish the job because pulse systems may take significant recharge time.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

The only real problem I see with this AURA setup is having a compact power supply strong enough to supply the many joules needed for a laser??

 

[p2prada]

We will need a pretty large aircraft to power the laser. AURA will not be enough. Something like Su-30MKI and higher will do.