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MOSCOW, March 21, Zakhar Andreev. Great Britain reported on successful tests of a system that should “radically change the combat space.” We are talking about laser systems. The technology has been developed for decades and is finally ready for use. What are the pros and cons of this type of weapon — in the material.
Why didn’t it work for a long time?
For a long time, combat laser systems remained experimental. However, they are no longer fiction. This was facilitated by the development of civilian technologies, Lockheed Martin senior researcher Rob Afzal explained in an interview with The War Zone in 2020.
In the 1990s, the rapid development of fiber-optic communications began, that is, data transmission by light pulses. Billions of dollars have been invested in the industry. When the market became saturated, companies in this area began to look for new uses.
It turned out that the fiber laser can be used in industry — for example, for cutting, welding, drilling. Today they do this in the manufacture of household appliances, electronic gadgets, and cars.
But for weapons it would be necessary to build a huge installation. The American military-industrial complex has found a solution.
When white light passes through a prism, it is split into all the colors of the rainbow. The gunsmiths did the opposite: they combined the beam of rays into one energy stream. This increased the power by about three times. It has become possible to create devices that are compact enough to be installed not only on ships and aircraft, but also on vehicles.
«Will hit any target»
Conflicts in Ukraine and other regions have forced the United States to reconsider the concept of air defense, including short-range air defense. The fact is that the Americans are losing their usual air superiority. Even irregular paramilitary forces are capable of resisting them. First of all, thanks to drones.
Traditional systems are ineffective against small drones. In addition, the anti-missile missile is several times more expensive than any quadcopter. Therefore, the Pentagon places special hopes on lasers. They will be equipped with Striker armored personnel carriers and other land platforms. Destroyers are already being armed with more powerful ones.
In March, the UK reported the successful testing of “long-range” laser weapons. The Dragonfire system was tested at a missile test site in the Hebrides. They shot down various drones and mortar shells.
Characteristics are classified. The military department claims that the weapon is capable of hitting “any visible target.” The Defense Secretary said it would «fundamentally change the battlespace.» The main advantage is its low cost: one shot costs less than ten pounds sterling.
Kyiv has already expressed its readiness to test Dragonfire on the battlefield. But London has no such plans yet.
Similar developments are underway in other countries. Thus, it is known that Israel has the Iron Beam air defense system. True, there are no confirmed cases of its use yet.
What do we have?
In the USSR they have been working in this area since the 1960s. However, conventional kinetic interceptors were found to be cheaper and more reliable. After the collapse of the country, all programs were curtailed.
Little is known about current projects. In his address to the Federal Assembly in 2018, Vladimir Putin mentioned a laser complex, which was later called Peresvet. Everything here is also classified. Presumably, the installation is designed to combat air and missile threats.
In May 2022, Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov (now the head of the Roscosmos state corporation) announced that Russia has high-power laser weapons.
“If Peresvet blinds, then the new generation of laser weapons leads to physical damage to the object, that is, to thermal damage, burning through,” he explained. “In order for us not to waste expensive missiles like Pantsir and Tora, now these are on the way systems that can absolutely freely shoot down unmanned aerial vehicles of various classes at a range of up to five kilometers.»
Borisov also noted that the first samples are already being used in a special military operation.
In August 2023, unofficial information about field tests of a laser gun. It was clarified that the heat ray successfully hit both aircraft-type drones and quadcopters.
«No noise and dust»
It was assumed that these silent weapons were also used to support commandos. In 2017, the then head of the US Special Operations Command, Brad Webb, described a likely scenario: before the capture team penetrates the terrorists' lair, a high-energy beam «without the slightest noise, whistle or explosion» will destroy an electrical transformer, a car engine and other equipment.
“As a result, the enemy has no communications, no means of evacuation, no electricity, no possibility of retaliatory intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. A few minutes later, a special forces group leaves the complex with the leader of the terrorists in their hands,” he said.
In addition, the Americans wanted to place laser cannons on AC-130J Ghostrider close fire support aircraft. The trial was repeatedly delayed before finally being canceled altogether this month. The reason is unnamed “technical problems”.
The US is also testing laser systems on fighter jets.
These weapons also have disadvantages. It is unknown to what extent the combat effectiveness of the beams will be affected by difficult weather conditions — say, rain or fog. In addition, the laser only hits targets within the line of sight — that is, at a relatively short distance. Different systems have a range from one and a half to five kilometers. And for the same aviation in a modern war, it is critically important to be able to strike from a long distance, tens of kilometers, without entering the air defense coverage area.
Be that as it may, the real potential of laser weapons will only be revealed by their real combat application.