No Need For S-400? India's KALI Could Be A Nightmare For China's 5th-Gen J-20 Fighter

Last Updated:February 03, 2026, 18:07 IST

Multiple variants of the system, including KALI-5000 and KALI-10000, are reported to exist, each offering progressively higher power output

Despite its technological potential, the KALI system faces significant operational constraints. (News18 Hindi)

India is steadily expanding its air defence architecture with a mix of imported systems, indigenous platforms and advanced research projects aimed at countering emerging aerial threats. The Russian-made S-400 Triumf air defence system and the indigenously developed Akash missile system are already operational, while several next-generation programmes are under development to strengthen layered air defence coverage across the country.

Among these efforts is a long-running and largely classified research initiative known as the KALI project, which focuses on directed energy technology. KALI, short for Kilo Ampere Linear Injector, is a high-power electron accelerator developed by defence scientists to study the military applications of high-energy beams and high-power microwaves.

Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs), which include laser and microwave-based systems, are increasingly viewed as a key component of future warfare. Unlike conventional weapons, DEWs are designed to disable or disrupt enemy platforms by targeting their electronic systems rather than causing physical destruction.

India’s KALI system, developed jointly by defence research laboratories and atomic research institutions in the late 1980s, is based on a linear electron accelerator capable of generating extremely high-current electron beams. These beams can be converted into high-power microwave pulses using specialised equipment such as Marx generators. Multiple variants of the system, including KALI-5000 and KALI-10000, are reported to exist, each offering progressively higher power output.

Defence analysts note that, in theory, such systems could interfere with or disable sensitive electronics on modern combat aircraft, including radar systems, avionics and flight-control computers. In that context, some experts have suggested that advanced stealth fighters could be vulnerable to high-power microwave attacks under certain conditions. However, there is no publicly available evidence of KALI being tested against operational combat aircraft, nor has it been used in any military exercise or conflict.

China, too, is believed to be working on directed energy and high-power microwave systems, though details remain limited. Comparisons between the two countries’ capabilities are largely speculative, with analysts pointing out that Indian systems emphasise raw power, while Chinese platforms appear to prioritise mobility and rapid deployment.

Despite its technological potential, the KALI system faces significant operational constraints. Larger variants are reportedly heavy, stationary installations that require substantial power supply and cooling infrastructure. Their effective range is limited, making them less suitable against fast-moving aerial targets equipped with long-range missiles. Additionally, recharge times between pulses restrict rapid engagement of multiple targets.

Experts caution that while directed energy systems could play a role in strategic defence, particularly against drones, missiles or electronic warfare threats, they are unlikely to replace conventional air defence systems in the near term.

Indian defence research organisations are reportedly exploring ways to improve the mobility, targeting speed and firing rate of directed energy platforms. If these challenges are addressed, such systems could eventually complement existing missile-based defences as part of a broader, multi-layered air defence strategy.

News india No Need For S-400? India's KALI Could Be A Nightmare For China's 5th-Gen J-20 Fighter

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