DRDO 2.0: From lasers to AI, top defence R&D official shares the big 'pizza' plan for India's next-gen warfare

Time of India

5 hours ago

Shift from conventional systems to future warfare
Directed energy and photonic radar advancements
Live Events
Bridging technology gaps
Project delays and technical challenges
Private sector role through DCPP model
Indigenous technology and operational success
Strategic shift to DRDO 2.0
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In a major shift, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is moving away from conventional weapons to focus on advanced technologies like directed energy weapons quantum systems and artificial intelligence . The new approach, called DRDO 2.0 , is aimed at preparing India for the next era of warfare, according to senior DRDO official Dr. B.K. Das.Dr. B.K. Das, Distinguished Scientist and Director General (Electronics & Communication Systems) at DRDO, said in a recent television interview that the organisation is undergoing a transformation to align with future warfare requirements. He said DRDO is shifting its focus away from traditional weapons development and instead concentrating on areas such as directed energy, photonics , quantum systems, and AI.'If we want to win the war, it's going to be the war of technology,' he said.To support this change, DRDO is handing over the majority of conventional system development and production to private industry. The organisation will remain involved in a limited capacity, providing 10 to 20 percent support. This allows DRDO to concentrate on long-term strategic research while enabling industry partners to scale up production.Dr. Das shared details of recent breakthroughs, including India's first photonic radar and a 30-kilowatt laser-based weapon designed to target drones and small projectiles. He said that DRDO had already demonstrated a 2-kilowatt laser system as part of its D4 anti-drone platform in operational conditions.'The future of warfare is going to be directed energy,' Dr. Das said. 'If we continue to intercept incoming missiles with missiles of our own, the economics of prolonged conflict will not favour us. That is why technologies like high-energy lasers and microwaves are crucial.'Responding to concerns raised by the Defence Secretary about a 'yawning gap' in certain defence technologies, especially in air power, Dr. Das admitted there were challenges. He said DRDO is investing in foundational research for AI/ML, quantum systems, and cognitive systems to bridge those gaps. He added that such deep-technology projects take time to mature.He compared the development process to preparing a pizza, saying the final product may not be visible today, but the essential ingredients are being prepared for future use.On the subject of delays in DRDO projects, Dr. Das said that past issues were often caused by inaccurate timelines and underestimating the complexity of projects.'We over-speculated, thinking we could realise things much faster. When we dive deep into development, we often discover the true scale and complexity of the challenge,' he said.He noted that DRDO is now focusing on mature technologies that are closer to deployment in order to meet immediate defence needs.DRDO has adopted a new collaboration model called Develop and Produce with Production Partner (DCPP). Under this approach, private companies are involved from the initial stages of design and development. This model is meant to ensure smoother production when systems are ready.Dr. Das said the Indian defence industry has grown significantly, with private players now taking on key roles in developing and producing high-tech systems.'The generation has changed. Their aspiration has gone sky high. The industry is coming up in a big way,' he said.He added that DRDO-developed systems like the D4 anti-drone platform are already being produced by private firms and were deployed successfully during recent military operations, including Operation Sindoor . He also mentioned that Akash and BrahMos systems performed well during the same operation.The DRDO 2.0 vision marks a shift in India's defence R&D strategy. By focusing on future technologies and allowing the private sector to handle conventional systems, DRDO aims to stay relevant in a fast-changing global defence environment.