Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs)

Why in the News?
India has recently made significant investments in the development and deployment of Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs), reflecting a strategic shift in modern warfare technologies.

What are Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs)?

• Definition: DEWs are weapons that use concentrated energy, such as electromagnetic waves or particles, instead of traditional kinetic energy (e.g., bullets or missiles), to incapacitate, damage, or destroy enemy equipment, facilities, or personnel.
• Types of Energy: These weapons utilize different forms of energy, such as lasers, microwaves, and particle beams, and can have a variety of applications depending on the specific technology used.

How DEWs Work:

• Electromagnetic Spectrum: DEWs operate by emitting electromagnetic energy at the speed of light. They use different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, such as radio waves, microwaves, infrared, and visible light, to achieve different effects on targets.
• Penetration: The ability of DEWs to penetrate various materials is determined by the wavelength of the energy used. Different types of energy can affect materials like metals, plastics, or even human tissue in distinct ways.
• Power Output: Unlike everyday devices, DEWs have significantly higher power output, allowing them to disrupt or destroy targets effectively over long distances.

Applications of DEWs:

Military Defense:

• Missile Defense: DEWs can intercept and neutralize incoming missiles by focusing beams of concentrated energy on them, causing them to disintegrate or malfunction mid-air.
• Drone Neutralization: DEWs are highly effective against drones, which are becoming a major concern in modern warfare and border security.
• Disabling Electronics: They can disable or destroy enemy electronics, communication systems, and radar without the need for physical destruction.
• Law Enforcement and Border Security:
• Non-lethal Crowd Control: Low-power DEWs, such as microwaves or lasers, can be used for non-lethal purposes like crowd control by causing discomfort or disabling electronic devices.
• Border Surveillance: DEWs can enhance border security by detecting and disabling unauthorized drones or vehicles without using conventional weapons.
• Space Operations:
• Satellite Defense: DEWs can be used to protect satellites by neutralizing incoming threats, such as space debris or anti-satellite weapons. They can also disrupt enemy satellites without causing physical destruction, thereby avoiding the creation of more space debris.

Strategic Importance:

DEWs represent a next-generation technology in warfare, offering advantages in speed, precision, and cost-efficiency. By investing in DEWs, India aims to strengthen its defense capabilities, particularly in areas like missile defense, border security, and space operations.

Types of Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs)

• High Energy Lasers (HEL):
• Mechanism: HELs use highly concentrated beams of light to destroy or incapacitate targets. These lasers deliver energy to the target at the speed of light, offering precision targeting.
• Power and Applications:
• HELs with a power output of 100 kW are suitable for neutralizing smaller targets like Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).
• Lasers with 1 MW power output can engage and destroy larger targets such as ballistic and hypersonic missiles.
• Range: Effective over long distances, HELs are used for fast-moving, individual targets at greater ranges.
• High Power Microwaves (HPMs):
• Mechanism: HPMs emit high-frequency electromagnetic waves that can damage or destroy electronic systems and incapacitate personnel without causing physical harm.
• Applications: HPMs are ideal for targeting widespread electronic systems, making them useful in disabling enemy radars, communication systems, and drones.
• Range: While highly effective, HPMs generally have shorter ranges compared to HELs and are used for widespread targets.
• Millimeter Waves:
• Mechanism: These waves use wavelengths between 1 and 10 millimeters to affect targets. They can penetrate certain materials but are absorbed by human skin, causing discomfort.
• Applications: Primarily used for non-lethal military applications, such as crowd control or personnel incapacitation. An example is the Active Denial System, which uses millimeter waves to create a burning sensation on the skin without causing permanent harm.
• Particle Beam Weapons:
• Mechanism: These weapons accelerate particles, such as protons or electrons, to near-light speeds and direct them at a target, causing damage at the atomic level.
• Applications: Particle beam weapons have potential applications in military defense, targeting missiles or aircraft, and possibly disabling critical components through intense heat and kinetic energy. Their use is still largely in the experimental stage.

Advantages of Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs)

• Cost Efficiency per Shot:
• DEWs are generally less expensive per shot compared to traditional munitions. For instance, Britain's DEW 'DragonFire' laser reportedly has a cost of less than £10 per shot when intercepting enemy aircraft or missiles.
• Rapid Response Time:
• The speed of light in laser beams allows for near-instantaneous targeting of threats. This rapid response is crucial for countering fast-moving objects, as it eliminates the need for complex calculations needed for intercepting missiles.
• Logistical Efficiency:
• DEWs rely on electrical power rather than physical ammunition, simplifying supply chains and reducing the need for traditional mechanical loading.
• Precision Targeting:
• Directed energy is unaffected by factors such as gravity, wind, or Coriolis force, allowing for highly accurate targeting, which is vital for minimizing collateral damage.
• Stealth:
• Many DEWs operate silently and invisibly, particularly those that utilize wavelengths outside the visible spectrum. This makes them difficult to detect, enhancing tactical advantages.
• Countering Low-Cost Drones and Rockets:
• DEWs can effectively target a large number of inexpensive unmanned systems and munitions, which could overwhelm conventional air defense systems.

Challenges of Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs)

• Technological Limitations:
• DEWs may struggle with effectiveness at longer ranges, and atmospheric conditions (like fog or storms) can diminish their capabilities.
• Battlefield Use:
• Deploying DEWs may raise complex decisions about usage, especially for wide-beam systems like high-power microwaves, which can affect all assets in the area, regardless of allegiance.
• Ethical and Health Concerns:
• There are uncertainties regarding the long-term health effects of exposure to DEWs, raising ethical questions about their deployment in military operations.
• Arms Race:
• The development of DEWs by one nation may prompt an arms race among others, potentially escalating geopolitical tensions.
• Other Concerns:
• DEWs are currently large and require substantial energy, making them less mobile. High research and development costs, along with the need for a clear line of sight for high-energy lasers, can limit their operational scope. Additionally, reflective materials and other countermeasures can be employed to mitigate DEWs' effectiveness.

Steps Taken by India for DEWs

• Directionally Unrestricted Ray-Gun Array (DURGA)-II Project:
• Initiated by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) to develop a lightweight DEW with 100 kW output.
• 2kW DEW System:
• Developed by Bharat Electronics Limited to counter threats posed by drones and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).
• Laser Science and Technology Centre (LASTEC):
• A DRDO laboratory focused on developing DEWs under the project name Tri-Netra.
• Kilo Ampere Linear Injector (KALI):
• A linear electron accelerator being developed by DRDO and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) for targeting long-range missiles.

Examples of DEWs Across the Globe

• USA: HEL with Integrated Optical-Dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS), High Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS), Tactical High Power Microwave Operational Responder (THOR).
• United Kingdom: DragonFire laser directed energy weapon.
• Israel: 'Iron Beam', a laser-based interception system.
• Russia, France, Germany, China: Several countries are reportedly developing DEWs or laser DEWs.

Conclusion

Given the persistent threats from neighboring countries, particularly China, and its advanced technological capabilities, India must prepare to address potential threats from autonomous and hypersonic weapons. DEWs represent a promising solution to enhance India's defense capabilities and maintain strategic parity in the region.