Directed Energy Weapons: India’s Defence Future

New Delhi: Aiming t o t a k e I n d i a ’s defence sector to another level, the Defence Research and Development O r g a n i s a t i o n (DRDO) is making optimal use of the facilities provided by the government. As the world is moving towards laser based weapon systems, India looks up to organisations like the Centre for High Energy Systems and We must celebrate our scientists: PM Science Conclave’ in Ahmedabad via video conferencing. Modi said that it was essential that every state prepares a modern policy on science, innovation and technology and implements it. “As governments, we should cooperate and collaborate with our scientists as much as possible. This will create an atmosphere of scientific modernity in the country.” He said the government was moving forward with the mantra of
science based development. India could produce 200 crore Covid vaccines due to collective efforts of its scientists. The Prime Minister emphasized that science was the basis of s o l u t i o n s, e v o l u t i o n a n d innovation, and it was with this inspiration that today’s new India is moving forward with Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan as well as Jai Anusandhan. Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, on Saturday, launched the official Host City Logo of the state for the upcoming FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2022, for which it is one of the three hosts. The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2022, scheduled to be held between 11th October and 30th October across Odisha, Goa and Maharashtra, will be the first FIFA women’s competition to be held in India and the first FIFA competition to be hosted by the state of Odisha. The scheduled matches at Kalinga Stadium would be India vs USA on 11 October, India vs Morocco on 14 October, and India vs Brazil on 17 October. Expressing his delight at the launch event, Patnaik said, “Odisha is emerging as a leading sports destination and hosting the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2022 is a momentous opportunity for our state. The official Host City Logo launch of Odisha is an
important milestone which also signifies the progress of women’s football. We are excited to host the best young female footballers from across the world and especially, the Indian team who will be playing all their group stage games at the Kalinga Stadium. As the Indian team makes their first appearance in a FIFA women’s competition, I encourage the people of Odisha to show their support in strong numbers at the stadium.” The official Host City Logo of Odisha is a composite that presents the official emblem of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2022 beside a specially designed artwork that showcases the rich cultural heritage, vibrant sporting ecosystem and overall splendour of the state. Project Directors of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the tournament,
Ankush Arora and Nandini Arora, also conveyed their sentiments of gratitude, while encouraging the people to visit the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. “The state of Odisha has been forthcoming, proactive and generous with their support, time and initiatives. We are very thankful to the Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik and all other stakeholders who have left no stone unturned in preparing to successfully conduct the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2022. It gives us great pleasure that everyone remains aligned in their vision of making sure all participating nations enjoy great hospitality as they ready themselves to enthral audiences with their skill and talent. This youth World Cup is also a wonderful opportunity for the people to watch the best young international footballers live from the stadium and show support for women’s football, which is fast progressing,” said LOC Project Directors, Nandini Arora and Ankush Arora, in a joint statement.The event also inaugurated a special initiative for school children called the Kick Off The Dream Football carnival. This carnival, aimed at introducing football to children and leveraging its power to normalize genderinclusive participation, features fun football-themed games and activities as well as one five-a-side football pitch and two three-a-side football pitches. The Kick Off CM Launches FIFA U-17 Women’s WC Logo Directed Energy Weapons: India’s Defence Future Sciences (CHESS) under DRDO. In India, CHESS is the nodal centre for such evolved and futuristic weapon systems. Located in Hyderabad, CHESS is a defence lab under DRDO. According to reports, CHESS conducts research and works on High Energy Laser Systems. The organisation has been experimenting with Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs) in an attempt to modernise the defence technology of the nation. These systems destroy hostile targets using laser technology. Any hostile object, whether it is a drone, enemy boat or mortar, that comes in contact with a high-energy laser gets destroyed. In layman’s terms, DEWs are capable of destroying or damaging the target temporarily or permanently by focusing high-energy beams or lasers. The application of systems developed by CHESS includes neutralising targets such as personnel, missiles, drones, vehicles and optical devices on land, air or water, reported All India Radio. Given India’s security concerns, DEWs will play an essential role, especially at a time when our neighbouring countries are also experimenting with such weaponry. DEWs are the weapons of the future. CHESS is working on both the Hard Kill and Soft Kill parts of these weapon systems which will enable the country to better engage
with threats. These systems will provide India with strategic and operational superiority over its adversaries, the report stated. ` I n a conversation with PBNS, Ravi Shankar, a scientist at CHESS, said that DRDO has a tie-up with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for mass production of these defence systems as it is only an R&D organisation. “Currently, the defence systems developed by CHESS are employed with Army Air Defence, National Security Guard (NSG) and Special Protection Group (SPG),” said Ravi Shankar at FICCI’s event ‘Making India a Global Drone Hub’. DRDO has been working in this domain for the past few years to develop weapon systems of up to 100 kilowatts of power for short, medium and long ranges. These high-powered DEWs can quietly incapacitate enemy missiles or drones without leaving any physical evidence or debris. Russia, France, Germany, the UK, Israel and China are few of the countries that are working and have robust programmes to develop DEWs or Laser Directed Energy Weapons. DEWs are being used by various militaries as a force multiplier and India is also making simultaneous efforts to keep up with the requirements of modern-day warfare. India’s DEW development includes DURGA II (Directionally Unrestricted Ray-Gun Array), which is a 100 kilowatt, lightweight directed-energy system. This weapon system will be integrated with the Indian Army and any other platform on land, air or water bodies. There are many projects in progress related to DEWs under DRDO’s sleeves. Some of the projects are Kilo Ampere Linear Injector (KALI), Project Aditya and Air Defence Dazzlers.

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