Laser/Beam weapons

[LETHALFORCE]

http://cautionindia.blogspot.com/2011/03/drdos-laser-wepons-for-indian-defences.html

DRDO'S LASER WEPONS FOR INDIAN DEFENCES

The state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has unveiled its futuristic technology plans which involve high-powered lasers for combating incoming missiles as well as other areas of homeland security.

The DRDO's Laser Science & Technology Centre (LASTEC) has indicated that it has been developing Directed Energy Weapons (DEWS) for the Indian Armed Forces and that it will be a crucial exercise along with space security, cyber-security and hypersonic vehicles." LASTEC has the mandate to develop DEWs for armed forces," said DRDO's chief controller (electronics & computer sciences) R Sreehari Rao.

XDRDO's LASTEC is building up these technologies to compliment the efforts of the Indian Armed Forces to modernise themselves and achieve their future technology roadmap. The idea is to develop laser-based weapons, deployed on airborne as well as seaborne platforms, which can intercept missiles soon after they are launched towards India in the boost phase itself.

Elaborating on the potential of DEWS, LASTEC indicated that while conventional weapons use kinetic or chemical energy of missiles or other projectiles to destroy targets, DEWs decimate them by bombarding with subatomic particles or electromagnetic waves at the speed of sound. The collateral damage is also reduced with this method.

These futuristic technologies will also be incorporated in the Ballistic Missile Defence system being pursued by India. While all these laser-based technologies will take time to develop and be deployed, the DRDO along with LASTEC has mapped out the future course of action in these areas.

Scientists at the DRDO's LASTEC have already completed work on a hand-held version of the laser dazzler with a range of up to 50 meters and a 25 kilowatt laser system capable of destroying enemy missiles is estimated to be completed in five years time. However, given the poor performance of the DRDO in developing crucial equipment in time, it remains to be seen if the DRDO can actually deliver. The process will involve sourcing the raw materials for high-powered lasers, manufacturing the parts and perfecting radar tracking that will allow continuous focusing on a missile cone besides other critical factors.

For starters, LASTEC is ready with hand-held laser dazzlers to disorient adversaries without collateral damage with a 50-metre range. As for the DRDO LASTEC's future "laser" agenda, it is developing crowd-control dazzlers mounted on vehicles to dispel rioting mobs with 250-metre range. This will take two more years.

Other crucial ventures include Laser-based ordnance disposal system, which can be used to neutralise IEDs and other explosives from a distance. The trials are expected in 18 months time. Besides that, there are air defence dazzlers to take on enemy aircraft and helicopters with 10 kilometres range and will be ready in 2 years.

Finally, there is a 25-kilowatt laser systems to destroy missiles during their terminal phase with 5 to 7 kilometres range and a 100-kilowatt solid-state laser systems, which will be mounted on aircraft and ships to destroy missiles in their boost phase itself. These two systems will take five years and ten years respectively to be ready.

LASTEC scientists are also working on a vehicle-mounted "gas dynamic laser-based DEW system" under Project Aditya but it will just be a technology demonstrator to prove beam control technology. The future will be solid-state lasers which are more efficient, smaller and lighter.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

http://articles.janes.com/articles/...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

 

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http://articles.timesofindia.indiat...sile-defence-system-laser-beams-laser-science

DRDO's next: Star Wars-like weapons

NEW DELHI: Move aside Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker, DRDO is trying to develop its own set of Star Wars-like weapons. From laser dazzlers to control rioting crowds to high-powered lasers to destroy incoming missiles, DRDO is working on a slew of directed energy weapons (DEWs).

"Lasers are weapons of the future. We can, for instance, use laser beams to shoot down an enemy missile in its boost or terminal phase,'' said DRDO's Laser Science & Technology Centre (LASTEC) director Anil Kumar Maini, talking to TOI on Monday.

Incidentally, DRDO chief V K Saraswat himself has identified DEWs, along with space security, cyber-security and hypersonic vehicles, as focus areas in the years ahead. "LASTEC has the mandate to develop DEWs for armed forces,'' said DRDO's chief controller (electronics & computer sciences) R Sreehari Rao.

While conventional weapons use kinetic or chemical energy of missiles or other projectiles to destroy targets, DEWs decimate them by bombarding with subatomic particles or electromagnetic waves at the speed of sound. Apart from the speed-of-light delivery, laser DEWs cause minimal collateral damage.

DRDO, of course, often promises much more than it can deliver. But even the defence ministry's recent "technology perspective and capability roadmap'' identifies DEWs and ASAT (anti-satellite) weapons as thrust areas over the next 15 years, as was first reported by TOI.

The aim is to develop laser-based weapons, deployed on airborne as well as seaborne platforms, which can intercept missiles soon after they are launched towards India in the boost phase itself. These will be part of the fledgling ballistic missile defence system being currently developed by DRDO.

The US, incidentally, is already conducting tests of high-powered laser weapons on a modified 747 jumbo jet, the ALTB (airborne laser testbed), which direct lethal amounts of directed energy to destroy ballistic missiles during their boost phase.

It will, of course, take India several years to even conduct such tests. For now, LASTEC is developing "a 25-kilowatt'' laser system to hit a missile during its terminal phase at a distance of 5-7 km. "All you need is to heat the missile skin to 200-300 degree and the warhead inside will detonate,'' said Maini.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

http://indiadefenceonline.com/2112/drdo-develops-new-laser-weapons/

DRDO Develops New Laser Weapons

India Defence Online, New Delhi — The state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has unveiled its futuristic technology plans which involve high-powered lasers for combating incoming missiles as well as other areas of homeland security.

The DRDO's Laser Science & Technology Centre (LASTEC) has indicated that it has been developing Directed Energy Weapons (DEWS) for the Indian Armed Forces and that it will be a crucial exercise along with space security, cyber-security and hypersonic vehicles." LASTEC has the mandate to develop DEWs for armed forces," said DRDO's chief controller (electronics & computer sciences) R Sreehari Rao.

DRDO's LASTEC is building up these technologies to compliment the efforts of the Indian Armed Forces to modernise themselves and achieve their future technology roadmap. The idea is to develop laser-based weapons, deployed on airborne as well as seaborne platforms, which can intercept missiles soon after they are launched towards India in the boost phase itself.

Elaborating on the potential of DEWS, LASTEC indicated that while conventional weapons use kinetic or chemical energy of missiles or other projectiles to destroy targets, DEWs decimate them by bombarding with subatomic particles or electromagnetic waves at the speed of sound. The collateral damage is also reduced with this method.

These futuristic technologies will also be incorporated in the Ballistic Missile Defence system being pursued by India. While all these laser-based technologies will take time to develop and be deployed, the DRDO along with LASTEC has mapped out the future course of action in these areas.

Scientists at the DRDO's LASTEC have already completed work on a hand-held version of the laser dazzler with a range of up to 50 meters and a 25 kilowatt laser system capable of destroying enemy missiles is estimated to be completed in five years time. However, given the poor performance of the DRDO in developing crucial equipment in time, it remains to be seen if the DRDO can actually deliver. The process will involve sourcing the raw materials for high-powered lasers, manufacturing the parts and perfecting radar tracking that will allow continuous focusing on a missile cone besides other critical factors.

For starters, LASTEC is ready with hand-held laser dazzlers to disorient adversaries without collateral damage with a 50-metre range. As for the DRDO LASTEC's future "laser" agenda, it is developing crowd-control dazzlers mounted on vehicles to dispel rioting mobs with 250-metre range. This will take two more years.

Other crucial ventures include Laser-based ordnance disposal system, which can be used to neutralise IEDs and other explosives from a distance. The trials are expected in 18 months time. Besides that, there are air defence dazzlers to take on enemy aircraft and helicopters with 10 kilometres range and will be ready in 2 years.

Finally, there is a 25-kilowatt laser systems to destroy missiles during their terminal phase with 5 to 7 kilometres range and a 100-kilowatt solid-state laser systems, which will be mounted on aircraft and ships to destroy missiles in their boost phase itself. These two systems will take five years and ten years respectively to be ready.

LASTEC scientists are also working on a vehicle-mounted "gas dynamic laser-based DEW system" under Project Aditya but it will just be a technology demonstrator to prove beam control technology. The future will be solid-state lasers which are more efficient, smaller and lighter.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

http://www.dnaindia.com/world/repor...-weapons-in-ballistic-missile-defence_1222517

India plans to use laser weapons in Ballistic Missile Defence

 

[LETHALFORCE]

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/85712/india-developing-own-laser-weapons.html

India developing own laser weapons to target missiles
Move over missiles, rockets and bombs; for India has embarked on an ambitious mission to develop its own laser weapons.

In a two-track process, defence scientists are developing a strong laser source to kill enemy missiles and rockets on the one hand and perfecting the technology to control the laser beam for effectively utilising the source as a weapon on the other.

"We aim to conduct the trials of a tactical level laser weapon (that can strike an enemy target 5-7 km away) within the next five years," Anil Maini, director of Laser Science and Technology Centre (Lastec) here, said at a Defence Research and Development Organisation meeting on Monday.

The idea of using lasers as weapons has been around since it was invented in 1960. But to make an effective weapon, the source has to be strong enough to generate beams producing hundreds of kilowatts of energy. Nobody in the world has perfected a laser weapon for operational use so far.

As the defence laboratory planned to develop a 25 kilo watt solid state laser source for its first trial, Maini said it was going to be an arduous task considering that defence scientists so far have developed only a 1-kilo watt solid state laser source, which is ideal for field use.

Gunnery system
Last month, at the Farnboroigh air show, US firm Raytheon unveiled its anti-aircraft laser that could shoot down unmanned aerial vehicles, mortar, rockets and small-surface ships. The laser system could be used on its own or together with a gunnery system.

Raytheon, too, used a solid state fibre laser that produces a 50 kilowatt beam. In the first phase, India wants to make something similar but half its strength.

"Our aim is to make laser weapon for shooting down enemy missiles at the terminal phase. The Army is interested in having such an weapon," Maini said.

While Lastec and Solid State Physics Laboratory are developing the source, in a parallel development bulky carbon dioxide and chemical lasers are being used to produce a high-energy beam using which the beam control technology can be developed.

The scientists working on the direct energy weapon project, Aditya, will take a minimum of three years to come out with a beam control technology, which is absolutely essential to have a laser weapon in hand.

To design the control technology, Maini and his colleagues are developing a gas dynamic laser (150 km) and a chemical laser (20 kw). But both are too bulky to be used in a battle field, necessitating the development of compact and portable solid state lasers.

"But worldwide, the solid state technology is not powerful enough to produce hundreds of kilowatts of energy," Maini added.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/7091593.html

India develops anti-missile directed energy weapons

India is developing a series of directed energy weapons (DEW) to improve the anti-ballistic missile capability, local media reported on Tuesday.

A laser weapon of the DEW family are being developed, which could fire a beam with a potency of 25 kilowatt. This type of laser weapon would intercept a ballistic missile in its terminal phase within the range of seven kilometers, Indian newspaper the Indian Times quoted Anil Kumar Maini, the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO)'s Laser Science and Technology Center director, as saying.

The ballistic missile would explode as its shell temperature is heated to 200-300 degrees Celsius by the laser beam, the Director explained.

The DEW is a sophisticated weapon that could destroy a target by emitting and transferring the energy to a target in an aimed direction. Some types are in development in some countries. Among the DEW, laser weapons usually generate high-energy pulses against targets.

According to the weapon development roadmap by the Indian Ministry of Defense, the DEW would be one of the top priorities for the Indian advanced weapons development over the next fifteen years, said the report.

A gas dynamic laser-based DEW is also being developed by The Center. It could be flexibly deployed by a moving vehicle, Maini said.

In the future, the Indian laser weapons could be carried by three services' platforms, such as the Air Force's transport planes, fighters and the Navy's destroyers and submarines, according the report.

If their developments are smooth, the Indian new laser weapons test would be conducted within several years by DRDO.

On February 12, 2010, a U.S. high-powered airborne laser weapon shot down a mocked ballistic missile, and became the first successful test for a airborne DEW to destroy a ballistic missile.

India has carried out two anti-ballistic missile interception tests by launching the anti-aircraft missiles since the beginning of this year. Among them, the July's test succeeded while March's test failed due to the anti-aircraft missile's radar failing to track the mocked target.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

http://www.proud2bindian.in/india-defence-forum/288-drdo-developing-laser-weapons-indian-troops.html


DRDO developing laser weapons for Indian troops
Following in the footsteps of the US Armed Forces, the Indian Army soldiers will soon be armed with laser guns to help take on militants without even firing a single shot.

The Laser Science and Technology Centre (LASTEC), a DRDO laboratory, has developed 'Laser Dazzler' - a non-lethal gun - for the armed forces to be used during counter-insurgency and anti-terrorist operations.

"The laser gun is a non-lethal anti-personnel weapon, which could be used to disorient or dazzle an armed soldier or a terrorist without causing any collateral damage in the process," LASTEC's Associate Director A K Maini told PTI in the capital on Thursday.

He said the gun would flash a laser beam, which could virtually "blind" the terrorist or anti-social element for around 40 seconds - time good enough for the troops to nab the culprit.

The flash beam of the gun is two to three metres wide, which would provide better chances to the forces in disorienting the target.

"The gun can be used effectively in counter-insurgency operations and close combat battles by the defence and paramilitary forces," Maini said.

The DRDO-developed gun would be used for trials by the Army in counter-insurgency operations in the next five to six months. It would be tested in "real combat" situations in both Jammu and Kashmir and North Eastern states.

The laser guns are also fully compliant with the UN conventions, which prohibit the use of laser guns that cause permanent blindness.

"Laser guns causing permanent blindness are banned under a 1995 UN Convention called the Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons. But the DRDO gun does not have any such effects on the target. The eyes come back to normal level as soon as the dazzling effect of the flash is over," Maini said.

The LASTEC had successfully tested the effectiveness of the guns in laboratory conditions.

"The first batch of Laser Dazzlers was produced in Panchkula near Chandigarh. The guns would be coming back to us for technical clearances before we send them to the Army for user trials," Maini said.

The DRDO is also hoping to offer the laser gun to other paramilitary, central and state police forces after the Army carried out its trials.

"Other paramilitary, central and state police forces also have to carry out operations against militants in conditions similar to the Army's counter-insurgency operations, particularly in anti-Maoist operations," he said.

The use of non-lethal laser guns to dazzle anti-social elements has been on for a number of years now in the US. But this would be first time in India that the laser technology would be directly used on human targets.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/...ion=updatenews

 

[LETHALFORCE]

http://www.global-military.com/solid-state-laser-weapons-will-change-the-war-mode.html

Solid-state laser weapons will change the war mode

News Background: Recently, in the UK Farnborough International Air Show, Raytheon Company unveiled its latest laser air defense weapon system, saying the weapons in a weapons test site in the U.S. Navy, will be 3.2 km from the four non- Human burned. This, once again raised the concern of the world on laser weapons. August, India, Russia and other developing countries have also spread airborne laser anti-missile or the news. In response, some people suspected of Raytheon is a commercial speculation, some people screamed danger. The laser has long trial in the military field is an indisputable fact, people are more concerned about laser weapons, how far away from actual combat? On this topic, the reporter has interviewed the deputy director of the National Defense University military science and technology teaching Professor Li Lifu.
Have been calling for 50 years, laser weapons, get Sha to attract the eye today?
Q: Not long ago, the U.S. laser weapons in the Farnborough International air show extravaganza, so why so much movement, so interesting?
A: The development and testing of laser weapons even counting from 1960, it has been half a century. But this exhibition of laser weapons the United States there are three "bright spot": one out of the new products exhibited carrier solid-state laser; second means of high publicity, the pilot announced opponent is no robust in much of the battlefield in Iraq machine; third consecutive shot down, indicating a short response time of adjustment and stabilization of energy provision. These three points allow experts and laymen are interested.
The overall feel, it does have new breakthroughs in technology, but even if all the development work can proceed smoothly, still take several years or even longer to achieve the goal.
Q: More simply what you have achieved a breakthrough in where?
A: In the past, most countries in the study of chemical lasers, large volume, high energy consumption, this approach is too cumbersome. This time, the United States uses a solid-state lasers, is to use glass, ceramic materials such as work, the mechanism produces a qualitative leap, I think that is the technology to provide the support.
In addition, its volume suddenly drop down into only two refrigerators from the monster size. This is for military purposes, the significant development of tactical laser weapons for the future foundation.
The test uses a parallel structure with six sets of laser energy is not particularly connect equipment, installed in warships, the synthesis of a bunch of high-energy laser, destroying unmanned drone. We know that the past is difficult on laser weapons, ships, naval vessels because of their energy is mainly used for its own power, it is difficult to give sufficient energy laser weapons. But the test results, the United States should be made corresponding technical progress.
Q: can play UAV, it can mean to attack other weapons and equipment?
A: Of course you can attack similar to the UAV's small ships, high-speed flight of mortar shells, missiles and rockets, etc.. However, this test Flight relatively slow, relatively close distance. UAV production of materials with a real fighter and is worse than this as testing opponents, not enough to say anything.
Q: laser weapons, arms with unusual compared to what advantage?
A: It's combat speed, high accuracy. Laser as a weapon, do not beat the amount in advance, can the speed of 300,000 kilometers per second moment to hit the target, and can cause structural damage. It does not require expensive ammunition, in addition to consumption of electricity, almost no other material losses. It's like digital cameras, the one-time investment costs more, but not after the film, and "unlimited ammunition." And there is no pollution, no chemical charge and fragmentation, barely can be considered "green".
After 40 years of traveling, laser weapons can finally loaded combat aircraft
Q: In 1983, the United States had already made "Star Wars" program, but later stopped the development of laser weapons, but has not been stagnant?
A: The United States has never given up the study of laser weapons. It should be said, since the inception of laser, the United States has sought to put into military use. In 1973, the U.S. Air Force shot down the drone with a chemical laser. In 1976, the U.S. Air Force launched a space-based laser weapons programs, the next 11 years of trial, had shot down five missiles and a drone. Also been used to blinding laser operating in the satellite. Currently, the U.S. military also has a huge laser weapons development program.
Q: In recent years, the United States in the development of laser weapons, what progress has been achieved?
A: data from the public view, U.S. companies conducting solid-state laser development work has now been applied to field test are:
First, Raytheon's laser "Phalanx." Some U.S. Navy ships have the system installed to use the high rate of fire of the "barrage" to destroy incoming targets.
Second, Boeing's "Laser Avenger." September 2007, Boeing announced that its developed and installed solid-state lasers Avenger car fired several successful tests, destroyed five improvised explosive devices and two UAV ground.
The third is "Zeus" Hummer laser ammunition disposal system is mainly used to destroy unexploded ordnance, the maximum distance of 300 meters initiation, through the adjustment of the laser energy to achieve effective control of the blast.
Q: have a lot of people think that laser weapons could only be the leading science fiction, is what makes laser weapons "re-airs" of?
A: As mentioned above, chemical lasers are too cumbersome, too, in 2005, the United States basically abandoned the research on chemical lasers, solid state lasers is timely "Jiu Jia." Prior to that, because solid-state laser energy conversion efficiency is not high, has been difficult to use. Until recent years, technology was able to achieve for solid laser devices and chemical reaction produces the same amount of energy. The major issues to resolve, once the development of solid-state lasers will be sent to the fast lane.
Q: The landmark, the most significant progress was made when?
A: March 2009, the U.S. military-industrial giant Northrop Grumman announced that they have successfully developed a power of 100 kW solid-state laser, laser weapons in the construction and use of the road taken extremely important step. Because of this power laser weapons, enough to destroy rockets, mortars, unmanned aerial vehicles and so on.
Meanwhile, the results of the project include: system start time is less than 1 second, continuous working time of 5 minutes, the power required by the supply of aircraft engines or tanks. This means that the future of laser weapons will not only remain in the level of strategic weapons, is moving to the tactical level.
Can be said that, after more than 40 years after the development of laser weapons may finally have equipment in combat aircraft, tanks and warships on the. Under the current progress, if not unexpected, I guess F-35 will be the first choice.
If put into use, at the earliest after 2016
Q: Now everyone's views on laser weapons are not the same, how do you think?
A: I feel that laser weapons in the existing circumstances, to the relatively "weak" UAV destroyed, as technology development, including the constant improvement of the corresponding auxiliary systems, future fighter is not fighting the impossible. There are two voices: one that has a long way from actual combat, and another that the threat has been great. Personally, I think, at least for the air defense laser weapons and space warfare can already see a clue.
Q: laser weapons, on the future battlefield will be the impact?
A: The impact will be a series. For example, it challenges the existing concept of offensive and defensive operations. The other is to destroy the missile's boost phase, which can be considered offensive or defensive? Standards difficult to define. Again, laser weapons before it will replace the existing missiles, some of the tasks and functions, including air defense, long-range strike, and other. Moreover, the energy of laser weapons is adjustable, can be hard to destroy the implementation, but also can interfere with, suppress, disrupt each other, showing a "intermediate" state.
Q: aircraft, missiles have a method to intercept a super laser weapon exist?
A: As a weapon, of course, vary, but nothing can be "invincible there." All will have a reflection of light hitting the mirror, the laser is no exception. Missiles outside layer of white paint coating, laser combat effectiveness may be compromised. Moreover, the laser can only go straight, if the middle block, we can not reach the "mountain side of the goal." More importantly, the laser is not "all-weather weapons", by the very large weather. Especially in the rain, fog, snow or dust large areas of laser damage would be significant, the power will be greatly reduced.
Development of laser weapons on the negative attitude of those who have a point: there is a shield with spears, all their efforts, developed a laser weapons, there may be a little protective measures can be resolved laser attack.
In addition, laser contains common operational platform to platform is very easy to attack by conventional weapons, the viability of the battlefield to be tested.
Q: In order to overcome the weather effects, whether the deployment of laser weapons in space as well?
A: If the deployment of laser weapons in space, its combat effectiveness will play much better. However, the cost is enormous, and how to provide energy is also a problem.
Q: Please tell us again the future direction of laser weapons.
A: It will further enhance the efficiency of energy conversion to the "2"³ extension, that is, strategic and tactical applications has good application prospect. With the development of technology, laser weapons become smaller size, power will increase the range of use will be expanded.
Q: Finally, what laser weapons what should be a sign of maturity?
A: I think at least three things: First, technology is relatively mature, and can not be laboratory conditions, but to produce a laser beam under battlefield conditions, to meet operational needs. Second, the cost must be reduced, to mass production, mass and equipment. Third, in the real weapons systems, have relatively fixed, the prominence of the combat mission must be clear. This is to say into the actual state.
This time, Raytheon also announced that this new weapon, even by a subsequent series of successful tests, it will be possible after 2016 formally put into use. It can be said to be towards the actual laser weapons, a long road ahead. However, the rapid development of technology, really go up, perhaps not far away.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-08-17/india/27962619_1_induct-weapons-indian-army

Indian Army to induct portable laser weapons

JAMMU: Soldiers engaged in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast will soon have a new weapon to help them take on militants -- portable non-lethal laser dazzlers that can stun and blind their opponents.

"Two versions of the portable non-lethal dazzlers (PNLD), including a hand-held laser dazzler, are set to be inducted into the Indian armed forces for use in counter-insurgency operations. This will make the 21st century soldier a technology-driven jawan," a top defence source told a news agency.

The laser dazzlers, which can be mounted on existing weapons used by the soldiers, were tested in Kashmir in October last year and will be inducted into the army possibly by next year, sources said. They could be used against militants operating in the hinterland of Kashmir and against those infiltrating into the state across the Line of Control (LoC).

 

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http://www.subcontinentaldef.net/2010/08/india-to-develop-futuristic-anti.html

India to develop futuristic anti-missile directed beam weapon(laser weapon)


India is developing a series of directed energy weapons (DEW) to improve the anti-ballistic missile capability, local media reported on Tuesday.
A laser weapon of the DEW family are being developed, which could fire a beam with a potency of 25 kilowatt. This type of laser weapon would intercept a ballistic missile in its terminal phase within the range of seven kilometers, Indian newspaper the Indian Times quoted Anil Kumar Maini, the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO)'s Laser Science and Technology Center director, as saying.
The ballistic missile would explode as its shell temperature is heated to 200-300 degrees Celsius by the laser beam, the Director explained.
The DEW is a sophisticated weapon that could destroy a target by emitting and transferring the energy to a target in an aimed direction. Some types are in development in some countries. Among the DEW, laser weapons usually generate high-energy pulses against targets.
According to the weapon development roadmap by the Indian Ministry of Defense, the DEW would be one of the top priorities for the Indian advanced weapons development over the next fifteen years, said the report.
A gas dynamic laser-based DEW is also being developed by The Center. It could be flexibly deployed by a moving vehicle, Maini said.
In the future, the Indian laser weapons could be carried by three services' platforms, such as the Air Force's transport planes, fighters and the Navy's destroyers and submarines, according the report.
If their developments are smooth, the Indian new laser weapons test would be conducted within several years by DRDO.
On February 12, 2010, a U.S. high-powered airborne laser weapon shot down a mocked ballistic missile, and became the first successful test for a airborne DEW to destroy a ballistic missile.
India has carried out two anti-ballistic missile interception tests by launching the anti-aircraft missiles since the beginning of this year. Among them, the July's test succeeded while March's test failed due to the anti-aircraft missile's radar failing to track the mocked target.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Laser-dazzlers-to-tackle-mobs-soon/655310

Laser dazzlers to tackle mobs soon

With security forces in the Kashmir valley finding it hard to contain stone pelting mobs with conventional weapons, paramilitary forces will soon be getting a new non-lethal laser system to disperse violent crowds without causing injury.

The first of the new laser dazzlers, which use intense laser beams to disperse mobs by causing temporary blindness, will be handed over to security forces operating in Kashmir-like situations within three months.

While the smaller hand-held dazzlers may be seen in operation in the state in the next few months, a larger vehicle borne mob control system that will be able to handle larger crows without causing permanent damage or injury is under development and is expected to be ready by the end of next year.

The system is particularly efficient against stone pelters as it can be directed towards individuals, rendering them temporarily blind. "In a crowd, individual troublemakers can be identified and can be rendered temporarily disabled by using the dazzlers. It is a non-lethal system and will not cause permanent damage to the eyes," said Anil Kumar Maini, Director of DRDO's Laser Science and Technology Centre (LASTEC), which has developed the system.

The smaller hand held dazzlers, which will soon be used in the Valley, can target individuals at a range of 50 metres, the larger vehicle borne system would be able to direct the laser beam to a distance of over 250 metres. While paramilitary forces will get a limited number of the systems in three months, larger numbers would be manufactured based on their feedback.

The system was developed by the DRDO lab after interest was expressed by security forces in Kashmir that are stuck in a 'cycle of violence' with mobs that do not back down with conventional efforts.

 

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kali

 

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http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Se...ares-laser-based-missiles/UPI-89391283260404/

India prepares laser-guided missiles

NEW DELHI, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Bent on becoming a regional superpower, India is pursuing ways to develop laser-guided anti-ballistic missiles.

Dubbed direct energy weapons and developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization, the new weapons are intended to kill incoming, hostile ballistic missiles "by bombarding them with subatomic particles or electromagnetic waves," the Defense News Web site reported.

In a planning document written earlier this month, India's Defense Ministry said it would place what it called its highest priorities on direct energy weapons for the next 15 years. Trials of the weapons are expected within the coming years should scientists stay on schedule with the development program.

Indian scientists say they have already begun testing. The defense dazzler was reported to be one of the first weapons put to test, engaging enemy aircraft and helicopters within a range of 6 miles.

This system alone, Defense News reported, will be inducted into the country's defense apparatus by 2012.

"Lasers are weapons of the future. We can, for instance, use laser beams to shoot down an enemy missile in its boost or terminal phase," The Times of India recently quoted Anil Kumar Maini, who heads the Indian Defense Research and Development Organization's Laser Science and Technology Center.

The direct energy weapons are capable of producing 25-kilowatt pulses that can destroy intruding missiles. They are said to be considered by the Indian navy for deployment on submarines and destroyers. They may also be mounted on combat aircraft and transport planes.

India's designs come amid efforts to establish a defense shield capable of knocking down hostile ballistic missiles.

Should India succeed, it will join Israel, Russia and the United States in both developing and owning such defense technology.

Although manufactured domestically, the system's tracking and fire control radars have been developed with Israel and France.

Bent on bolstering its military might, India announced plans recently to spend up to $30 billion on its military by 2012.

In recent months, for example, it inducted a long-range nuclear-tipped missile into its armed forces, unveiling, also, a defense spending budget spiked by 24 percent since last year.

The moves have Pakistan fretting, with leading officials billing India's drive a "massive militarization."

The Times of India reported that laser-based weapons would comprise one component of a wider India missile defense network now under development. The newspaper noted, however, that the country's Defense Research and Development Organization is known to make claims regarding technology that it cannot ultimately produce.



Read more: http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Se...ed-missiles/UPI-89391283260404/#ixzz1Ky4bJ5cD

 

[LETHALFORCE]

US laser dazzlers in Iraq

 

[LETHALFORCE]

http://www.worldoflasers.com/laserinstitutions.htm#02



LASER INSTITUTIONS IN INDIA

 

[LETHALFORCE]

http://www.rense.com/politics4/beamweapon.htm

India Said Building Microwave Beam Weapon


MUMBAI - The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (Barc) here is in the final stages of assembling a powerful electron accelerating machine named ''Kali-5000`` which, its scientists say, can potentially be used as a beam weapon.

Bursts of microwaves packed with gigawatts of power (one gigawatt is 1000 million watts) produced by this machine, when aimed at enemy missiles and aircraft, will cripple their electronics systems and computer chips and bring them down.

According to scientists, ''soft killing`` by high power microwaves has advantages over the so called laser weapon which destroys by drilling holes through metal.

Kali-5000 will be ready for testing by the end of this year, according to Mr P H Ron, head of the accelerator and pulse power division at Barc and chief designer of India`s first star wars weapon.

However, in the present form India`s beam weapon is too bulky - it weighs 26 tonnes - including tanks containing 12000 litres of oil. Mr Ron said some ''compacting`` was possible.

He said Kali (kilo-ampere linear injector) machine was developed for industrial applications and that the defence use was a recent spinoff. He, however, declined to elaborate.

Describing it as a machine ''bordering basic research,`` Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Rajagopalan Chidambaram admitted in an interview that it has military potential. ''There are some technologies we have to be in touch with because they may become useful (later),`` he said.

Development of the Kali machine was mooted in 1985 by Dr Chidambaram, then director of Barc, but work earnestly began in 1989.

Mr Ron said the machine essentially generated pulses of highly energetic electrons. Other components in the machine down the line converted the electrons into flash x-rays (for ultra high-speed photography) or microwaves. The electron beam itself can be used for welding.

The Defence Balistics Research Institute in Chandigarh is already using an x-ray version of Kali to study speed of projectiles.

WORK IN BANGALORE: Another defence institute in Bangalore is using a microwave-producing version of Kali which the scientists use for testing the vulnerability of the electronic systems going into the light combat aircraft under development and designing electrostatic shields to protect them from microwave attack by the enemy.

According to Barc scientists, the Kali machine has for the first time provided India a way to ''harden`` the electronic systems used in satellites and missiles against the deadly electromagnetic impulses (Emi) generated by nuclear weapons.

The Emi wrecks havoc by creating intense electric field of several thousand volts per centimetre. The electronic components currently used in missiles can withstand fields of Just 300 volts per centimetre.

While the Kali systems built so far are single shot pulse power systems (they produce one burst of microwaves and the next burst comes much later), Kali-5000 is a rapid fire device, and hence its potential as a beam weapon.

According to Barc-published reports, the machine will shoot several thousand bursts of microwaves, each burst lasting for just 60 billionths of a second and packed with a power of about four gigawatts.

The high power microwave pulses travel in a straight line and do not dissipate their energy if the frequency falls between three and ten gigahertz.

According to Barc scientists, a microwave power of 150 megawatts has already been demonstrated in earlier versions of Kali.

 

[Patriot]

India Looks At Laser Weapons For Air And Missile Defense

Indian scientists are on the path to develop an airborne missile-intercept system that employs high-powered lasers to destroy missiles during their boost phase.

The Laser Science & Technology Center (Lastec) at India's secretive Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has been building up technologies that can intercept missiles early in their flight.

The weapons will also be utilized for crucial exercises by the country's armed forces that will involve space security, cybersecurity and hypersonic technology. These futuristic technologies will be incorporated in the Ballistic Missile Defense system being pursued by India.

Last year, DRDO developed an ultra-compact, hand-held laser sensor capable of giving warning in the form of an audio beep as well as a visual indication to the user of any impending laser threat. The device can be used by infantry soldiers in the battlefield and also can be configured as a helmet-mounted system in a modified package.

Recently, India also tested a laser ballistic missile defense system. The laser weapon is capable of producing 25-kw pulses that can destroy a ballistic missile at a range of 7 km (4 mi.). One of these weapons is the air defense dazzler, which can engage enemy aircraft and helicopters at a range of 10 km.

Last year the U.S. conducted a series of tests of high-powered laser weapons on a modified Boeing 747, the ALTB (Airborne Laser Test-Bed), which directs chemical laser energy to destroy ballistic missiles in the boost phase.

"While these laser-based technologies will take time to develop and be deployed, the DRDO along with Lastec has mapped out the future course of action in these areas," a DRDO official says.

 

[Patriot]

Navy Wants to Make Sea Air Safe for Laser Beams

The Navy has a dream: to strap their shipdecks with laser cannons. The biggest obstacle is an awfully ironic one: sea air wreaks havoc on laser beams.

For lasers to work optimally, a beam of concentrated light needs to pass in a straight line at a target. But sea air is packed full of crud, from dense water particles to salt molecules and regular pollution. All that diminishes what's called the "fluence" of a beam — the amount of radiated light it puts on a target; its zapping power, in other words. The traditional way to compensate for atmospheric distortions — with a "guide star" beam that tells you how much water and brine is in the air – hasn't been effective enough. All attempts to burn through that crud with higher-powered energy weapons have flopped.

So now the Navy is taking a new approach, asking businesses to make the sea air safe for lasers.

In a new solicitation, called "Atmospheric Aerosol Mitigation for High Energy Laser Propagation," the Navy suggests using "optical (electromagnetic) technologies" to cut down on the resistance that a beam of light traveling through the salty air will face. One option to preserve and expand fluence might be to use a "continuous wave" laser — an energy weapon that keeps blasting and blasting and blasting. Another choice: ultra short pulse lasers that fire so quickly, they burn a channel in the air.

How? According to the solicitation, the key method here is to "mitigate the absorption/scattering behavior of aerosol content within the beam path." That would suggest the need to make the particles in the way of your laser beam less dense. Essentially, the task here is to clear the air – or at least make the air less likely to soak up your laser's power. That's why the potential commercial applications here include a greater ability to "study environmental effects and impacts of in situ gases and chemistry not normally associated with local environments." It sure would be great for checking out pollution content.

It would also be extremely cost-effective for the Navy. The chief answer the Navy's biggest brains have for the problem of sea air density is to weaponize the most ginormous laser of all. A Free Electron Laser, unlike all other lasers, can generate a beam of light from multiple wavelengths across the light spectrum, allowing technicians to find the wavelength that best fits the atmospheric density of a particular plot of ocean. (Which means you wouldn't need all these other mitigation gimmicks.) Powerful? Certainly — it's even used to find God's own energy supply. But hardly efficient: the project's been in development for 15 years, and it won't be fielded aboard a ship, optimistically, for ten more.

That said, the Navy's laser research is starting to pay off. Last month, the Maritime Laser Demonstrator — a regular ol' solid state laser — on board a decommissioned destroyer disabled a small motorboat from a mile away, across choppy California waters. That beam was a mere 15 kilowatts. Imagine how much damage it could inflict through clearer air.

 

[sayareakd]

So I've talked to that relative of mine again and he said that trying to use lasers to shoot down rockets is a wast of time today and that's why Israel made Iron dome instead. Then again, his now allowed to tell me everything I also heard there are plans to sell it to India and that Iron dome's interception cost is actually considered relatively small.

Lasers are future tech for which R&D should continue if you dont want to left out of the tech, at present BMD missile and iron dome type tech are cheap alternative.