Battlefield lasers: Ukraine unveils potent counter-drone system

Laser weaponry belongs to a category known as energy-directed weapons, which also includes microwave, plasma, and sonic weapons. A laser operates by emitting an electromagnetic beam through the process of stimulated emission, characterized by a beam with low divergence.

This technology can emit a beam at the speed of light in a very short time, providing unparalleled accuracy for military applications. Lasers have been used in the military for decades, initially serving functions like weapon targeting through various means or measuring the distance to targets with laser rangefinders. Today, with devices boasting power levels in the kilowatt range, creating laser "cannons" is feasible.

Such devices can blind the enemy's electro-optics and, with higher power levels, destroy lighter constructed targets like drones. As the power of military lasers increases, they are expected to counter more robust targets, including airplanes and lighter vehicles.

The advantages of laser weaponry include exceptional accuracy, virtually ensuring a hit as long as the target is within range and the fire control and laser guidance systems function correctly. Additionally, firing a laser "shot" is remarkably low-cost.

However, lasers are not yet mature solutions; they are sensitive to weather conditions, limiting their effective range, and are unlikely to replace rockets anytime soon. The laser beam cannot penetrate terrain obstacles, and "shots" require storing and transferring relatively large quantities of energy, which poses a significant challenge. Nevertheless, it remains a feasible endeavor.

Recently, Ukraine's Armed Forces shared that they are using what is reputedly their own Trident system. This system reportedly effectively counters low-flying targets, understood by experts to include flying bombs from the Shahed family, various types of drones, and more.

Col. Vadim Sukharevskyi, the commander of drone units within the Ukrainian army, provided limited information about the Trident. The weapon's existence was disclosed in December last year, and the Trident has reportedly been used in combat, though it's uncertain if it is a singular prototype or if multiple units exist. Most importantly, it remains unclear if it's a wholly Ukrainian-manufactured weapon.

The concept of using lasers as weapons is not new and extends beyond the realm of science fiction. Notable examples include the Soviet mobile system 1K17, mounted on the chassis of a self-propelled 2S19 Msta-S gun (a 12-channel laser optical system using an artificial ruby weighing about 66 lbs), and the American airborne YAL-1, using a Boeing 747-400F as its platform. Modern lasers differ significantly from these early systems, as well as from those depicted in popular culture, resembling more traditional anti-aircraft searchlights or optoelectronic heads: they aren't particularly visually appealing.

Currently, numerous countries are developing "laser cannons," a term that's somewhat imprecise since these "cannons" vary in power from several kilowatts to hundreds of kilowatts or more. Eventually, they may be integrated across various military platforms. Lasers are initially expected to serve primarily defensive roles, targeting threats beyond the front line: rockets, drones, artillery shells, mortars, and so on. In this capacity, they could (at least partially) replace low-caliber cannons, which have limited effectiveness and comparatively high costs for target destruction.

It's no surprise that a primary development focus is on installing lasers on ships, as they theoretically offer ample space and energy reserves. One of the better-documented projects is the British DragonFire, developed by a consortium including MBDA UK, Leonardo, and QinetiQ, under the auspices of the government DSTL center. According to MBDA, DragonFire can track and hit an object the size of a one-pound coin from approximately 0.62 miles away.

The main component of the system is a 50 kW laser, which has undergone extensive testing over the years. The cost of firing (lasting about 10 seconds) is estimated at 10 British pounds. The laser is intended for Type 45 destroyers and Type 23, 26, and 31 frigates. In 2024, there was media speculation about potentially delivering a DragonFire unit in a land configuration to Ukraine as military aid. This leads to speculation that the Trident could be the British "Dragon Fire."

In Germany, a similar device was tested on the Sachsen-class frigate 124. Tests conducted between 2022 and 2023 demonstrated the capability of a system developed by MBDA Deutschland and Rheinmetall Waffe Munition to neutralize aerodynamic targets. The entire system was housed in a 20-foot container temporarily installed amidships.

Meanwhile, the US Navy has been pursuing the HELIOS program, which initially developed a laser with power up to 60 kW (with the option to enhance it to 150 kW), and later scaled to 150-300 kW, ultimately aiming for above 500 kW. The first demonstrative device was tested on an Arleigh Burke Flight IIA destroyer. However, future production models aim to support the self-defense of American ships.

On land, Americans are also advancing, though unevenly. In summer 2024, there were successful reports of developing a 50 kW DE M-SHORAD laser on a Stryker vehicle platform and a palletized P-HEL with a power of 20 kW. Interestingly, the lighter system had previously demonstrated slightly higher effectiveness. Ultimately, the primary carrier of defensive lasers for the US Army is expected to be the JLTV tactical vehicle, due to its widespread use. In the future, the US plans to deploy devices powerful enough to destroy a target from as far as 6.2 miles away (requiring an effectivity of 4 kW per cm² on the target).

Other countries are also keeping pace; for example, China is developing the Laser Arrow system on a 6x6 tactical vehicle chassis, and Israel is advancing the 100 kW (ultimately 300 kW) Iron Beam, with a "shot" cost around $3.50, with development accelerating following the Gaza Strip conflict.

Lasers are also expected to return to the skies. On the one hand, lasers are to be standalone and essential armament components mounted on unmanned platforms (e.g., MQ-9 Reaper), designed to combat enemy missiles or drones. On the other hand, some experts propose that lasers might act as an active protection system for 5th and 6th generation fighter aircraft, focusing on destroying anti-aircraft missiles.