Integrated Drone Detection & Interdiction System

The Integrated Drone Detection & Interdiction System (IDD&IS) is a series of laser weapons being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation for the Indian Armed Forces.

A 2012 research paper had paved the way for the development of an indigenous laser weapon in India.³ The requirement of a similar system was mentioned in the defence ministry's 2013 Technology Perspective & Capability Roadmap and the government had confirmed that the research on the matter had commenced at the Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences, and Laser Science and Technology Centre.⁴

By 2015, LASTEC completed the development of a unit of 1 kW 'single mode fibre laser' and was engaged in the further development of 5 kW and 9 kW fibre laser sources.⁴

Towards the end of August 2017, India conducted its first successful test of a directed-energy weapon. The weapon was a 1 kW class laser weapon in a truck-mounted configuration from the Chitradurga Aeronautical Test Range in Karnataka. In the test witnessed by the then defence minister, Arun Jaitley, the laser beam hit its target at a distance of 250 m (820 ft) and it took 36 seconds to "make a hole into the metal sheet". The weapon was a technology demonstrator and was to be followed by a 2 kW laser weapon with an expected range of 1 km (0.62 mi). Meanwhile, the core of the weapon system, the laser source, was being imported from Germany. By then, LASTEC had also developed a 10 kW chemical oxygen iodine laser and was developing a 30–100 kW "gas dynamic high power laser-based DEW" under Project Aditya.⁴

As of May 2024, DRDO was developing laser-DEW systems of a 30–50 kW range under its short, medium and long-term goals.¹

In early September 2024, it was reported that the Indian Navy conducted trials of a 2 kW DEW from a naval warship. Similar trials of a 10 kW DEW was planned.⁵⁶

On 13 April 2025, DRDO successfully conducted the trials of the truck-mounted Mk-II(A) laser-DEW system, India's first high-power laser weapon. During the trials, the system engaged a fixed-wing drone at long range as well as deterred a seven-drone swarm attack and destroyed enemy surveillance sensors and antennae. The system demonstrated a high speed of engagement, accuracy and destroyed the target in seconds. The cost to engage for a few seconds was equivalent to the cost of few litres of petrol. The system can engage its target once detected by a radar or its integral EO system. The CHESS-developed system was tested at the National Open Air Range, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh⁷⁸ for a range of 3.5 km in hot, extreme weather conditions. User trials would reportedly take 1–1.5 years.⁹ It is codenamed Sahastra Shakti and is powered by 6 individual 5 kW laser sources in a 2×3 configuration.³

As of then, DRDO is also developing laser-DEW systems of a 50–100 kW range along with microwave-based DEW under its revised short, medium and long-term goals.⁹⁵

A 5 kW laser DEW was tested as part of the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System on 23 August 2025.¹⁰¹¹

On 22 December 2025, Apollo Microsystems received technology transfer for CHESS 10 kW Laser DEW system and IRDE EO tracking system.¹²

The Indian Army released a request for information for the acquisition of an IDD&IS Mark II A in February 2026. The weapon's requirement was laid out by the Directorate General of Army Air Defence, and it is supposed be integrated with the existing air defence weapons.¹³

• IDD&IS Mk-I: 2 kW laser source with a hard kill range of 0.8–1 km (0.50–0.62 mi) and soft kill range of 2–5 km (1.2–3.1 mi) by jamming. Detection range: 5–8 km (3.1–5.0 mi). Deployed by the Indian Army.¹
• IDD&IS Mk-II: 10 kW laser source with a range of 2 km (1.2 mi).¹⁴ Cleared for induction by the defence ministry.¹⁵
• 5 kW laser weapon: A 5 kW laser weapon forms a part of the IADWS.¹⁰¹¹
• IDD&IS Mk-IIA:¹⁶ Also called, Mk-II (A) Laser-DEW⁸ or Sahastra Shakti, it is a 30 kW class laser weapon powered by 6 individual 5 kW laser sources in a 2×3 configuration.¹⁵¹⁷ It has a range of 5 km (3.1 mi) integrated with 360° EO/IR sensors and electronic warfare capability. Effective against fixed-wing aircraft, swarm drones as well as missiles.⁸ In production.¹⁴
• DRDO Surya: 300 kW laser source with a range of 20 km (12 mi).¹⁴

The Ministry of Defense released a request for proposals in November 2022 to purchase nine IDD&IS units.¹⁸ In March 2024, the Indian Army's Corps of Army Air Defence had inducted the first lot of seven IDD&IS into service.¹ India has reportedly placed an order for 23 such systems for ₹400 crore (US$42 million).¹⁹

On 13 April 2025, it was reported that the Indian Army's IDD&IS Mk 1 had intercepted a Chinese origin, Pakistan Army-operated drone in the area of responsibility of the XVI Corps,¹⁴ southwards of the Pir Panjal Range.¹⁹ The Army also planned to procure nine additional units under emergency procurement.¹⁹ Bharat Electronics, and the Corps of Army Air Defence signed an agreement for the IDD&IS on 16 May 2025, as part of a larger ₹572 crore (US$60 million) contract.²⁰

On 29 December 2025, the Defence Acquisition Council, functioning under the Ministry of Defence and the chairmanship of the defence minister, Rajnath Singh, cleared the procurement of IDD&IS Mk-II for the Indian Army.¹⁵²¹ Earlier, reports in November 2025, indicated Indian Army and Indian Air Force's bid to initially induct 16 IDD&IS Mk-II systems.²²²³

• India
  •  Indian Army: 7 Mk-I in service,¹ 9 Mk-I to be ordered.¹⁹²⁴