India Developing Laser-Based Anti-Missile Systems

[marcos98]

India Developing Laser-Based Anti-Missile Systems

India Developing Laser-Based Anti-Missile Systems - Defense News

NEW DELHI - Indian scientists are developing laser-based anti-ballistic missile systems called Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs).

Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), DEW weapons can kill incoming ballistic missiles by bombarding them with subatomic particles or electromagnetic waves. The weapons could intercept missiles soon after they were launched toward India.

A DRDO scientist said laser-based weapons have been tested. One of these weapons is the air defense dazzler, which can engage enemy aircraft and helicopters at a range of 10 kilometers. This weapon will be ready for induction in two years.

India's laser weapons can be deployed in the Navy's submarines and destroyers, and Air Force fighters and transport planes.

The DEW laser weapon is capable of producing 25-kilowatt pulses that can destroy a ballistic missile within seven kilometers, the scientist said.

In addition, Indian scientists are testing the Prithvi homemade anti-ballistic missile system, which can kill ballistic missiles at a height of up to 80 kilometers. The first-phase Prithvi is likely to be inducted by 2013, said the DRDO scientist.

Scientists are working on developing second-phase Prithvis capable of killing incoming intercontinental ballistic missiles.

 

[marcos98]

Northrop Grumman Skyguard laser-based air defense system
if anything like this were to become operational, then surely we'll have an upper-hand in this cat and mouse game.
NG skyguard systems seems to be of similar theory....

 

[su-47]

A truly effective ABM defence will have to have multiple 'layers'. Below is a pic of a minuteman III ICBM launch

Minuteman-III MIRV launch sequence:
1. The missile launches out of its silo by firing its 1st stage boost motor (A).
2. About 60 seconds after launch, the 1st stage drops off and the 2nd stage motor (B) ignites. The missile shroud (E) is ejected.
3. About 120 seconds after launch, the 3rd stage motor (C) ignites and separates from the 2nd stage.
4. About 180 seconds after launch, 3rd stage thrust terminates and the Post-Boost Vehicle (D) separates from the rocket.
5. The Post-Boost Vehicle maneuvers itself and prepares for re-entry vehicle (RV) deployment.
6. The RVs, as well as decoys and chaff, are deployed during backaway.
7. The RVs and chaff re-enter the atmosphere at high speeds and are armed in flight.
8. The nuclear warheads detonate, either as air bursts or ground bursts.

LGM-30 Minuteman - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

There has to be air borne lasers to knock out enemy BMs at launch. (Stage 1) ABLs can also be used against tactical Ballistic Missiles at stages 2, 3 and 7

Then there has to be a second layer of defence to deal with the warheads in space. (Stages 4 to 6) This has to be long-range ABM missiles or long-range airborne or ground based lasers. Space based lasers (SBL) would be ideal, but that technology is still infancy, and not yet viable

The next layer of defence is for stage 7. ABLs can't usually deal with the re-entry vehicles entering at such high speeds. It requires a very detailed and highly organised laser defence network to deal with this stage. The technology has still not matured enough. It can be overcome by large number of re-entry vehicles.

The development and deployment of a truly effective laser-based ABM system is still quite a distant dream. It will take years of R&D and billions of dollars. To make the system truly effective, ABLs and SBLs are a must. DRDO better start now, but we will only be able to see the fruits of this labour in the medium to long term future.

FOr now, we should invest more in the 'standard' ABM defences like PAD, AAD, Aegis, Arrow System etc. Some of these might not eb available to us, but we should try using diplomacy to make them open to us for purchase.

 

[Dash]

Iam sure, as the technology progresses, the world soon will have a remedy to tackle nukes and ballistic missiles.

Then all the nukes will be sitting duck....but u never know some other source like particle energy will be used for mass desturction.