India can neutralise Rs 50,000 drones for Rs 50 using laser weapons'

' Bengaluru, Nov 2 (UNI) India has developed high-powered laser-based weapons capable of neutralising hostile drones at a claimed cost of just Rs 50, against drones costing around Rs 50,000, highlighting a major shift towards cost-effective air defence amid the growing threat of low-cost unmanned aerial systems, LRDE Director M Sheikh Althaf said on Monday. Addressing a press interaction here, Althaf said India could not afford to rely on expensive missiles to destroy inexpensive drones, particularly in prolonged warfare where sustaining ammunition stocks and maintaining operational readiness were critical. "India should not afford to because we have to sustain the…