Into the Future Hi-tech laser, microwave weapons on Indian Navy’s wishlist

[Optimos Prime IA]

Hi-tech laser, microwave weapons on Indian Navy’s wishlist
Published July 20, 2015 | By admin
SOURCE: Hindustan Times

They may have achieved only 35-40% indigenisation in weapons and sensors on their warships so far, but that hasn’t kept the Indian Navy from fancying a future with weapons right out of the Star Wars films.

A senior navy officer has told Hindustan Times that the force plans to develop and deploy high-energy lasers and high-power microwave weapons to reshape the future of combat.

Lasers and microwaves are directed-energy weapons that discharge concentrated energy beams to destroy targets with minimum collateral damage. While laser weapons onboard warships would enable them to blast incoming targets like missiles and rockets at the speed of light, microwave-based weapons can destroy the enemy’s electronic equipment and communication network through an electromagnetic explosion.

“Fielding directed-energy capabilities may currently be in the conceptual sphere, but it is a critical long-term focus area. This class of weaponry offers significant advantages over conventional naval artillery,” the officer said.

The possession of technology to build such futuristic weapons could help bring India on par with the United States which successfully tested a laser weapon in the Persian Gulf last year. “The navy’s policy and plans wing has identified directed-energy weapons as a key long-term development project. We are sharpening focus on it,” said another officer familiar with the plan.

The US Navy is on track to kick off sea trials of its electromagnetic railgun next year, a lethal weapon that can fire projectiles at hypersonic speeds using electricity. The railgun has been developed by BAE Systems, a defence firm targeting opportunities in the Indian market.

Hi-tech laser, microwave weapons on Indian Navy’s wishlist | idrw.org

 

[Fenrir]

It's a good area to research, the US and Europe are heavily invested in directed energy weapons and high-velocity kinetic munitions:

One of many from the US

And one from Germany

India is right to persue lasers.

Microwave weapons haven't really panned out due to power, range and human rights concerns, but as a hedge against unmanned aircraft, they can be an effective deterrent - as Russia is developing:

Russia Is Working On An Anti-Drone Microwave Gun | Popular Science

As for railguns - kinetic perpetrators, even if India doesn't opt for a railgun (if something like power supply scuffs the development), the projectile can be co-opted on existing guns, such as the 5 inch used by the USN to give traditional guns railgun type range and power - as noted here with NAVSEA's plan to fit existing deck-guns with railgun munitions:

Of course an actual railgun is even better

India's a late bloomer in a rapidly evolving game, it can't afford to be left behind but it does have the base to be a major player too.

 

[ruby007]

@Technogaianist We developed a system called KALI, now that's been militarized,.. some tests were done from onboard il-76 .....

Also there were report that this weapon was used (testing) to trigger an avalanche in Siachen which killed 100s of pakistani soldiers ... ofcourse all conspiracy

KALI (electron accelerator) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Fenrir]

@Technogaianist We developed a system called KALI, now that's been militarized,.. some tests were done from onboard il-76 .....

Also there were report that this weapon was used (testing) to trigger an avalanche in Siachen which killed 100s of pakistani soldiers ... ofcourse all conspiracy

KALI (electron accelerator) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kali is a particle accelerator though, so a rail gun, but without the mass needed to actually do damage to large structures. A directional microwave gun, a bit too directional though.

It's a far cry from:

to a portable directed energy weapon such as:

It's not impossible, KALI is in essence an oversize microwave gun as it is, but it's too large at the moment for anything other than airborne use, and even then power supply and mass are a source of problems.

The KALI-5000 is a pulsed accelerator of 1 MeV electron energy, 50-100 ns pulse time, 40kA Current and 40 GW Power level. The system is quite bulky as well, with the KALI-5000 weighing 10 tons, and the KALI-10000, weighing 26 tons. They are also very power hungry, and require a cooling tank of 12,000 liters of oil. Recharging time is also too long to make it a viable weapon in its present form.

It's got power, but it doesn't have mobility, ease of use or maintenance or the necessary battlefield power capabilities (supply not damage, it could easily damage sensitive electronics).

The US has first hand knowledge with that struggle too with its YAL-1 program - a lack of mobility (though it was a stand-off platform), power and range complications and a limited power supply

KALI just isn't a viable weapon, even though it's likely been tested as such (see the link below), hence the need for further studies and development, as the OP suggests.

Competition Science Vision - Google Books

 

[ruby007]

Kali is a particle accelerator though, so a rail gun, but without the mass needed to actually do damage to large structures. A directional microwave gun, a bit too directional though.

It's a far cry from:

to a portable directed energy weapon such as:

It's not impossible, KALI is in essence an oversize microwave gun as it is, but it's too large at the moment for anything other than airborne use, and even then power supply is a problem. The US has first hand knowledge with that struggle too with its YAL-1 program - a lack of mobility (though it was a stand-off platform), power and range complications and a limited power supply

KALI just isn't a viable weapon, hence the need for further studies and development, as the OP suggests.

Probably ..... but you've to understand this is our first try and with this as a test bed we'll be developing the nxt gen weapons such as laser weapons....

**
And DRDO is already working on laser weapon to use as Anti-sat... using this platform, so i think we're on a right path and results could come in a couple of years

 

[acid rain]

Kali is a particle accelerator though, so a rail gun, but without the mass needed to actually do damage to large structures. A directional microwave gun, a bit too directional though.

It's a far cry from:

to a portable directed energy weapon such as:

It's not impossible, KALI is in essence an oversize microwave gun as it is, but it's too large at the moment for anything other than airborne use, and even then power supply and mass are a source of problems.

The KALI-5000 is a pulsed accelerator of 1 MeV electron energy, 50-100 ns pulse time, 40kA Current and 40 GW Power level. The system is quite bulky as well, with the KALI-5000 weighing 10 tons, and the KALI-10000, weighing 26 tons. They are also very power hungry, and require a cooling tank of 12,000 liters of oil. Recharging time is also too long to make it a viable weapon in its present form.

It's got power, but it doesn't have mobility, ease of use or maintenance or the necessary battlefield power capabilities (supply not damage, it could easily damage sensitive electronics).

The US has first hand knowledge with that struggle too with its YAL-1 program - a lack of mobility (though it was a stand-off platform), power and range complications and a limited power supply

KALI just isn't a viable weapon, even though it's likely been tested as such (see the link below), hence the need for further studies and development, as the OP suggests.

Competition Science Vision - Google Books

10 tons bulk on a war ship isn't too much of load..Indian navy may be interested in KALI in a refined form.

 

[Skull and Bones]

10 tons bulk on a war ship isn't too much of load..Indian navy may be interested in KALI in a refined form.

The load is never a concern, the concern is the power plant.

 

[Optimos Prime IA]

10 tons bulk on a war ship isn't too much of load..Indian navy may be interested in KALI in a refined form.

I also thought the same but he got a point as well . Am not aware of inside out of the programme but if what he says it's true ! ? Longer rechargeable time makes its not so eye catching solution either . I guess we derive many other subsystems from KALI . But day will come when we mount an laser under belly of tejas used as a anti aircraft weapon system

 

[#hydra#]

The load is never a concern, the concern is the power plant.

Auxiliary power plant can solve the problem.

 

[Skull and Bones]

Auxiliary power plant can solve the problem.

The answer is not simple as it is. I knew some guys working on directional microwave burst by simultaneously discharging an array of capacitors. After one burst, it took them 20-30 minutes to recharge it to be fired again. In an actual combat scenario, such system will be of no actual use.

 

[acid rain]

The answer is not simple as it is. I knew some guys working on directional microwave burst by simultaneously discharging an array of capacitors. After one burst, it took them 20-30 minutes to recharge it to be fired again. In an actual combat scenario, such system will be of no actual use.

Needs a lot of work..I guess it hasn't been as successful for the same precise reasons.

 

[Skull and Bones]

Needs a lot of work..I guess it hasn't been as successful for the same precise reasons.

For a stationary ground system, this might work, like you have many parallel capacitor arrays, and you interchange connection for each burst. But for a naval system, space will be a constraint, and powering all those capacitors.

 

[acid rain]

For a stationary ground system, this might work, like you have many parallel capacitor arrays, and you interchange connection for each burst. But for a naval system, space will be a constraint, and powering all those capacitors.

Refining it into smaller weapons would work. What's the range of these things?.

 

[Skull and Bones]

Refining it into smaller weapons would work. What's the range of these things?.

Not much, microwave is seriously attenuated by the atmosphere.

 

[proud_indian]

A new year for DRDO

Posted on: 11:28 AM IST Feb 04, 2014 IST

​

GEEK AT LARGE

Saurav Jha


Right folks, it is the beginning of the year (well, we are still in the first quarter at least) and 'Geek at Large' has decided to take a look at what we can expect from the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) in the coming period. In the first quarter of this year itself we are likely to see the first ever test of the Agni-V Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) from a canister and may also see the official unveiling of the K-4 submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM). The Nirbhay Ground Launched Cruise Missile (GLCM) is also set be tested for a second time soon. However, this post will focus on other programs that are just as significant for national security as the above.​

India's internal security environment has got better in recent times. Nevertheless, beyond improvements in tactics and training there is a need to leverage new technology to completely defang asymmetric warfare strategies being used by insurgents on Indian soil. It is here that DRDO's 'Divya Chaksu' program becomes significant given that under its aegis, sensors especially useful for providing situational awareness in low intensity warfare environments are being developed. Most significant among these are indigenous versions of foliage penetrating Radar (FOPEN), ground penetrating radar (GPR) and through wall detection radar (TWDR).
FOPEN mounted on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or even ground based platforms obviously makes a lot of sense given that Indian forces often have to undertake counter-insurgency operations in wooded areas. A rugged militarized GPR will prove rather significant in detecting tunnels and the counter-IED fight. TWDRs are naturally quite useful in built-up areas to locate targets hiding behind concrete structures. These systems are of course already available from companies abroad but cost and security considerations ordain that indigenous development and production be pursued.
The electronic warfare realm will be further bolstered in 2014 when India's first dedicated electronic intelligence satellite, CCI-SAT will be lofted into space by a PSLV. CCI-SAT could well augment the joint Signal Intelligence Directorate - DRDO program 'Divya Dhrishti' which is an extensive electronic support measures (ESM) network consisting of some 12 ground stations connected via satellite along India's borders and has the capability to detect otherwise difficult to detect aircraft. Of course CCI-SAT is more oriented towards picking up signals from enemy communication networks. Incidentally, developments in the field of multi-static radars are on the anvil as well.
2014 may also see forward movement in the area of directed energy weapons with Indian efforts in the arena of solid state lasers being unveiled. Much work has already been done in the field of gas dynamic laser(GDL) and chemical oxygen iodine lasers (COIL). For instance enclosed below(see Fig I) is the 'solid model' of a 25 kilowatt (KW) vehicle mounted GDL developed by DRDO's Laser Science and Technology Centre (LASTEC) that has been successfully tested against airborne in the past. The auto laser pointing system used on this 'transportable' GDL originally belongs to a 100 KW GDL. Solid state systems with 20 per cent laser efficiency have also been developed.

Perhaps a future LASTEC developed free electron laser (which are also being researched) could be miniaturized enough to fit the Rustom-2 UAV (see fig 2 below) which will soon take to the skies for the first time. A future post at 'Geek at large' will detail some of the engine options for this UAV which has been designed to fly at 30,000 feet with an endurance of up to 35 hours putting it in the medium altitude long endurance (MALE) category.

Saurav Jha's Blog : A new year for DRDO












DEW's Programme Update -

DRDO has confirmed that it has recently undertaken a project for the development of a self-contained HMV-mounted laser weapon system for detection/tracking and physical destruction of UAVs up to a range of 5 km under normal environmental conditions.

Preliminary system design architecture and technology gaps have been identified and efforts are being made for international collaborations for fast-track development in the project.

100 kW Class Directed Energy Laser Weapon System is very powerful Laser which DRDO is developing said Defence Expert Vinayak Shetty when he first heard about it and it will have ability to take down much more then UAV’s thanks to such a powerful Laser said Shetty. he further explained that only Last year U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin to design, build and test a 60-kilowatt electric laser to be integrated and tested in a truck-mounted weapon system demonstrator which will have ability to counter rockets, artillery, mortars and unmanned aerial threats.

Chinese companies recently developed a powerful anti-drone laser for use in urban areas. 10 kilowatt lasers has ability to target mini-UAVs like quad copters and hand launched drones which could be used by terrorists to scout out attacks, or act as impromptu bombers on Urban areas. Laser has a range of 2km and a 50 metre altitudes.

US Navy is currently fielding the Laser Weapons System (LaWS), a 15-50kW laser on board USS Ponce which is an Austin-class amphibious transport dock of the United States Navy which has ability to target drones and enemy missiles .
From the Indian Defence Expo 2014 -

DRDO's Counter IED 1 KW Laser - enables remote disposal of surface laid unexploded ordnances, mines, directional mines and IEDs. The laser is mounted on a Light Security Vehicle made by TATA Motors. The system’s effective range is 30-250 meters. The smaller aperture adjacent to the main laser unit is a rangefinder, designed to determine the exact distance to target. The system also employs a target sighting camera.

Range 50 to 250 meters


xposting @Chanakya's_Chant