Prateek Tripathi
Though the interest in Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs) has been around for a long time, it is only recently that significant advancements have happened in the field. The United States (US) government has been pouring billions of dollars into DEWs over the years, and the technology is now finally in a position to pay dividends. Far from residing in the realm of science fiction, DEWs are fast becoming a reality. India has also been investing in DEWs, which have now acquired an increasing importance due to the fact that they present a viable counter-measure to Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and, potentially, even hypersonic weapons.
What are DEWs?
As per the US Department of Defence (DOD), DEWs use concentrated electromagnetic energy, rather than kinetic energy like conventional weapons, to “incapacitate, damage, disable or destroy enemy equipment, facilities, and/or personnel.” Different DEWs can be obtained depending on the part of the electromagnetic spectrum being utilised. The most prominent ones are high-energy lasers (HEL) and high-powered microwaves (HPM) weapons. Though other DEWs like particle beams do exist, they are still in early stages of development.
No comments:
Post a Comment