DRDO Delivers 500 Watt Pulsed Laser Diode Stacks to Boost Missile Proximity Fuse Performance

DRDO delivered a batch of 500‑watt pulsed laser diode stacks intended for missile proximity fuses, a component slated for integration in the recently tested Kusha long‑range surface‑to‑air missile, reinforcing its indigenous weapons portfolio.

Laser Diode Stacks generate high‑energy microsecond pulses that trigger fuse circuitry at the precise moment of target approach, a capability demonstrated in laboratory trials that showed consistent activation within a 5‑meter envelope, enhancing hit certainty.

Missile Proximity Fuses equipped with these stacks will replace older analog units, offering digital control, lower maintenance, and the ability to receive software updates, fitting DRDO’s broader shift toward network‑centric, precision‑guided munition systems.

Indian Defence Capability gains a measurable boost as the laser components are manufactured domestically, cutting reliance on imports, strengthening the local supply chain, and creating skilled jobs that align with the nation’s defense‑modernization roadmap.