The newly established Drone Systems Unit of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is testing a domestically developed laser weapon called Tryzub. This was announced by the unit's commander, Vadym Sukharevskyi.
"We can state that, as of today, Ukraine is, if I am not mistaken, the fifth country able to claim possession of a laser weapon. Currently, we can use this laser to shoot down aircraft at altitudes exceeding 2 kilometers," Sukharevskyi said during the We Build Ukraine conference, as quoted by Interfax-Ukraine.
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Defense Express notes that a combat laser with such characteristics is indeed a remarkable development. The announced range and the class of targets it can engage already indicate its advanced capabilities.
For example, the effective range of the American AN/SEQ-3 (LaWS) combat laser is stated to be 1.6 km, with a power output of up to 50 kW. Similarly, Rheinmetall demonstrated comparable power levels in the early 2010s, successfully targeting UAVs at distances of up to 2 km during test firings. The British DragonFire, which also features a power output of 55 kW, was slated for testing in Ukraine.
To achieve an effective range of 2 km, a laser typically requires a power output of around 50 kW. However, if the power is reduced to approximately 20 kW, the range decreases to about 1 km and becomes significantly influenced by the type of target and the duration of laser exposure.
Furthermore, beyond raw power, the core of laser weaponry lies in its ability to focus the beam and maintain precise targeting on a moving object. To penetrate a target's hull, the beam must remain fixed on a single point. For example, the DragonFire can maintain a focal accuracy of 23 mm at a distance of 1 km.
DragonFire is a new laser being developer by @dstlmod for the military. Watch its first high-power firing against an aerial target. https://t.co/D5sqIciICS pic.twitter.com/oI1xG9sK87— Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) March 11, 2024
The claim that the Ukrainian Tryzub laser can strike an aircraft at a distance of 2 km strongly implies that the issue of precise positioning has been effectively addressed, even for targets moving at speeds of up to 200 km/h.
Sukharevskyi also mentioned that the Tryzub laser is currently being scaled up and enhanced. While it remains an experimental prototype, its demonstrated capabilities already make it an exceptionally promising development.
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