Surendra at 02:40, 25 October 2025

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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox Laboratory
|name = Laser Science & Technology Centre
|motto =
|logo =
|image = 
|established = 1998 as LASTEC <br> 1982 as DSC <br> 1950 part of DS
|city = [[Delhi]]
|research_field =
|type =
|director = Shri Hari Babu Srivastava
|staff =
|budget =
|operating_agency = [[DRDO]]
|affiliations =
|address = [[Metcalfe House, Delhi|Melcalfe House]]<br />Delhi-110054 <ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090501232722/http://www.drdo.org/add.shtml Addresses]}}</ref>
|telephone =
|campus =
|website = [http://www.drdo.gov.in/drdo/labs/LASTEC/English/index.jsp?pg=homebody.jsp LASTEC Home Page]
|footnotes =
}}

'''Laser Science and Technology Centre''' ('''LASTEC''') was a laboratory of the [[Defence Research & Development Organization]] (DRDO). Located in [[Delhi]], it was the main DRDO lab involved in the development of [[laser]]s and related technologies. LASTEC functions under the DRDO Directorate of Electronics & Computer Science.

== History ==
LASTEC was the oldest laboratory in DRDO.<ref name="history">{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20061009030143/http://www.drdo.org/labs/ecs/lastec/history.shtml History of LASTEC]}}</ref> It was established in 1950 as Defence Science Laboratory (DSL) which was a nucleus laboratory with the objective to conduct research in frontier areas of physics, chemistry and mathematics with a special focus on lasers and opto-electronics. On 9 April 1960, DSL was shifted to Metcalfe House and inaugurated by then [[Defence Minister of India|Defence Minister]] [[V. K. Krishna Menon]], in the presence of Pt. [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]. Its first Director was [[S. P. Chakravarti]], the father of Electronics and Telecommunication engineering in India, who later founded LRDE, DRDL and DLRL.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://in.booksc.eu/book/53133498/850b31 |title=Prof. S.P. Chakravarti (1904–1981) | Mitra, S.N. | download }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

With time, many DSC activities were given to newly formed, specialized DRDO laboratories. DSL served as a precursor for as many as 15 present DRDO labs, including DRDL, SSPL, INMAS, FRL, ISSA, DESIDOC, DIFR, SAG, ITM etc.<ref name="FIDSNS 1">{{cite news |first = P. Chacko |last = Joseph |title = LASTEC the Laser Lab |url = http://frontierindia.net/lastec-the-laser-lab/ |publisher = Frontier India Defence and Strategic News Service | date = 6 August 2007 |accessdate = 2007-11-06}}</ref>

In 1982, the laboratory moved to a new technical building in Metcalfe House complex and was renamed as Defence Science Centre. The centre consolidated its R&D activities towards more specific and application oriented areas, such as liquid fuel technology, spectroscopy, crystallography, system engineering, biotechnology etc. DSL now started concentrating in the area of pure sciences such as physics, chemistry and mathematics. The chemistry division developed G-fuel and [[unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine]] (UDMH) for rockets and missiles. The Mathematics division conducted simulation and calculations related to the missile program, while the Physics division took the lead by launching many activities.

DSC was also given a new charter of duties with its major thrust on lasers. Intensive work commenced on [[solid-state laser]]s, [[carbon dioxide laser]]s, ALARM, [[laser rangefinder]], [[Optical fiber|fibre optic]] [[gyroscope]], [[ring laser gyroscope]]s, laser intruder alarm systems, etc. In 1986, the centre was made responsible for the development of high power lasers for Defence applications as one of its major missions. The lab was renamed LASTEC on 1 Aug 1999 to emphasize its core focus of laser technology. As of 2020, LASTEC is no longer functional or act as an independent laboratory. All the staff members have been transferred to DRDO labs in Hyderabad.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mohan|first=Vijay|date=30 November 2020|title=DRDO shuts down 3 labs, sends staff to other centres|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/drdo-shuts-down-three-labs-sends-staff-to-other-centres-177986|access-date=2021-04-03|website=Tribuneindia News Service|language=en}}</ref>

== Application ==
In the field of high-power lasers, LASTEC worked in the following fields:

* Chemical oxygen iodine laser
* Gas dynamic laser
* Hf-Df laser

== Areas of work ==
LASTEC's primary focus was the research and development of various laser materials, components and laser systems, including High Power Lasers (HPL) for defence-applications.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20061009030052/http://www.drdo.org/labs/ecs/lastec/areas.shtml LASTEC Areas of Work]}}</ref> The main charter of the lab revolved around progressing in areas of photonics, electro-optic counter measures (EOCM), low and high-power lasers (HPL). LASTEC also developed and delivered [[directed-energy weapon]] systems for the [[Indian Armed Forces]], based on high-power laser technology. As a defence technology spin off, LASTEC had also been engaged in the development of lasers for medical and other civilian applications.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[https://www.deraysemi.com/680nm-red-light-vcsel-laser-diode Red Light VCSEL Laser]
*[http://frontierindia.net/solid-state-laser-developments-at-lastec/ Solid State Laser Developments at LASTEC]

{{DRDO Laboratories}}

[[Category:Research institutes in Delhi]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Delhi]]
[[Category:Research institutes established in 1950]]
[[Category:Defence Research and Development Organisation laboratories]]
[[Category:Laser awards and associations]]
[[Category:1950 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Research and development in India]]

Laser Science and Technology Centre - Revision history

Surendra at 02:40, 25 October 2025