New Delhi: India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has unveiled a high-power microwave (HPM) weapon system capable of disabling hostile drone swarms at ranges up to one kilometre, with plans to extend this reach to five kilometres by 2026.
The system marks a major leap in the nation’s counter-UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) capabilities, offering a non-kinetic, cost-effective alternative to traditional anti-drone defence mechanisms, according to defence sources.
Why India Need a Microwave Weapon
Unmanned drones are increasingly used in conflict zones, border incursions, and by non-state actors worldwide. Traditional kinetic interceptors like missiles and guns can struggle against multiple small, fast targets, especially when deployed in coordinated swarms.
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DRDO’s microwave weapon functions as a directed energy system, emitting intense pulses of microwave energy that disrupt or destroy the electronic systems inside drones — including communication links, flight computers, and navigation modules — without using physical projectiles.
This approach offers critical advantages:
- Lower cost per engagement than missiles.
- Minimal collateral damage in civilian areas.
- Simultaneous effect on multiple targets within the beam path.
How the DRDO Microwave Weapon Works
The DRDO microwave weapon project began in 2019 at the Microwave Tube Research and Development Centre (MTRDC) in Bangalore.
What are the Features of DRDO Microwave Weapon
Key features include:
- Use of ultra-short microwave pulses — each just 20 nanoseconds wide — to overwhelm drone electronics.
- Adjustable beam parameters to tailor coverage for different threat profiles.
- Capability to neutralise small quadcopters similar to commercial DJI Phantom-class drones during current trials.
In recent demonstrations, the weapon successfully disabled drones at distances up to one kilometre, validating its effectiveness against low-cost, widely deployed systems.
What is the Significance of DRDO Microwave Weapon
While the prototype is effective at one kilometre, DRDO has set an ambitious target to extend the operational “kill range” to five kilometres by end of 2026.
Achieving this will require advances in:
- High-efficiency microwave sources.
- Power generation and beam focusing technologies.
- Thermal and energy management for sustained firing.
If successful, a five-kilometre reach would significantly enhance India’s layered air defence architecture, especially against coordinated swarm attacks and low-altitude incursions.
Enhancing India’s Counter-Drone Ecosystem
The HPM weapon joins a growing suite of indigenous counter-UAV tools under development by DRDO and the Indian armed forces.
India is already fielding and upgrading other directed energy systems, such as laser-based anti-drone weapons and radar/jamming suites, to detect and disable incoming aerial threats.
These efforts align with India’s broader goals under the Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative — building advanced defence technologies domestically with reduced dependence on foreign suppliers.
Strategic and Global Implications
Directed energy weapons like DRDO’s microwave system represent a paradigm shift in future warfare, enabling rapid and reusable engagement of drones and other electronics-dependent threats.
As drones become cheaper and more ubiquitous, multi-layered systems combining:
- Radar detection,
- Laser effectors,
- Microwave weapons are crucial for national security.
Experts say such systems not only deter hostile drone operations near strategic assets like airbases, naval facilities, and command centres but also position India alongside major powers investing in advanced counter-UAV technologies.
