New domestic "laser gun" and prospects for the direction
Russian laser complex "Peresvet". Photo by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Over the past few decades, the Russian defense industry has been working on the creation of combat lasers for various purposes. The other day it became known that another sample of this kind reached the stage of field testing. It is intended to combat unmanned aerial vehicles of various classes and has already demonstrated such capabilities.
At the test stage
The success of a promising domestic laser was reported on August 26 by RIA News. The agency received information about this project and its latest results from an informed source in an unnamed structure. He disclosed only general information about recent events and did not go into details.
According to the source, a combat laser complex was recently tested at one of the Russian training grounds. The source referred to this product as a "laser gun", but did not specify specific names or indexes. Of all the characteristics and design features, he mentioned only the use of radiation in the infrared range. The organization-developer is also not named.
During the tests, the operation of the complex as a means of air defense was tested - it fought with unmanned aerial vehicles. Aircraft-type UAVs and quadrocopters were used as targets. "Shooting" was carried out in the near zone.
Jobs operators "Peresvet". Photo by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
The tests gave the desired result: the laser successfully destroyed air targets. The power of the beam was sufficient to physically destroy the UAV. The radiation burned through the structural elements and / or electronics of air targets. At the same time, the power of the laser emitter, the range of destruction, etc. not named for obvious reasons.
Other features of the complex and principles of operation also remain unknown. In particular, methods for detecting and tracking air targets, weapons control tools, etc. are of great interest in this context.
Thus, at the moment, only the very fact of the existence of a certain combat laser complex designed for air defense of the near zone is known. At the same time, the product has already been brought to tests in the conditions of the test site and confirms the design characteristics. All this shows that the project is developing and producing the desired results. Probably, now we can expect that in the near future the industry will officially talk about the new "laser gun" and even reveal some of its characteristics.
In the interests of air defense
The idea of using a combat laser in the field of air defense appeared and was successfully implemented quite a long time ago. So, back in the first half of the eighties, the Soviet industry brought the self-propelled laser complex "Sangvin" to the test. The task of this combat vehicle was to suppress or disable the optoelectronic devices of enemy helicopters and aircraft. Due to the high complexity of the Sanguine, it did not leave the testing stage.
American concept of a laser air defense system from Raytheon
In recent years, the idea of an air defense laser has been returned, and the development of relevant projects and products has begun. This time, the main impetus for the development of this direction was the progress in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles. aviation. The theoretical study of the issue showed that lasers are one of the most effective and convenient means of suppressing / destroying UAVs.
The implementation of such ideas began several years ago. During the military-technical forum "Army-2017", our Ministry of Defense issued the Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Russian Federal Nuclear Center" (part of Rosatom) a state contract for the development of development work with the code "Zadira-16". The goal of the ROC at that time was called the creation of a combat complex based on new physical principles - without specifying on which ones.
In May 2022, Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov said that a new combat laser was hiding under the name "Zadira". The development of this project was completed by that time, and production had already started. Moreover, a new type of laser complex was involved in the Special Operation for the Protection of Donbass.
The Deputy Prime Minister also revealed some of the characteristics of the "Zadira". He mentioned that shortly before this, the next tests of the complex had passed. A UAV of an unnamed class and type was used as a training target, located at a distance of 5 km from the combat laser. The complex took such a target for tracking and for 5 seconds acted on it with a laser beam. This was enough to destroy the target structure.
Whether the latest news is related to the Zadira-16 project is unknown. We can talk about the next tests of this complex, incl. after refinement based on the results of a real application, about creating a new product based on it, or about a completely different combat laser. One way or another, now our industry can offer the army at least two near-field laser air defense systems.
Laser benefits
The interest in combat lasers from the armies is quite understandable: the military is attracted by the characteristic features and advantages of such systems. At the same time, in the field of protection against UAVs, complexes of this class can fully realize their advantages and cope with the assigned combat missions.
Combat laser concept from General Atomics and Boeing
Recall that a combat laser has several main advantages. First of all, it is the possibility of direct transfer to the target of the required amount of thermal energy - for its damage or destruction, depending on the tasks set. Pointing a laser beam is a fairly simple task that does not require complex calculations. In addition, a “shot” from a laser is much cheaper than any existing ammunition.
At the same time, there are inherent defects. To increase the range and / or power of the beam, it is required to increase the power of the emitter. Because of this, there is a need for a more powerful source of energy, as well as an increase in the size and mass of the complex. The laser beam, with all its advantages, is subject to the negative effects of external factors. Various weather phenomena can interfere with the transfer of thermal energy to the target and worsen the effectiveness of the "shooting".
A combat laser system designed to combat small UAVs can effectively use the main advantages of such weapons. First of all, this is due to the peculiarities of the goals. Lightweight quadcopters and aircraft-style craft are made from plastics and composites that can be melted down or ignited without significant energy consumption. In addition, most of them are equipped with one or another optics, which is also the target for the laser beam.
A combat laser can literally burn unmanned targets at distances of several kilometers. At a greater distance, suppression or defeat of their optical means is ensured. This does not require high laser power and, as a consequence, powerful means of power supply. There is an opportunity to make the complex mobile.
An experienced mobile laser developed in China. Photo CCTV7
Despite the complexity and high cost of the laser, the cost of one "shot" at a target or a "volley" at several remains low. In addition, the duration of work and use of the laser increases dramatically. In this regard, combat lasers are much more profitable than artillery and air defense missile systems. In addition, an anti-aircraft missile may be redundant for a particular target, while a laser will inflict the required damage on it.
A combat laser is less dangerous in terms of collateral damage. So, after its application, only fragments of the hit target fall to the ground, but not rocket elements or projectiles. Accidental hits on foreign objects are excluded due to the competent use of technology. In addition, it is possible to select the power and effective range of the beam, beyond which it will not pose a great danger.
Obvious progress
Combat lasers are currently the most interesting variety weapons "on new physical principles". They have great technical and military potential, and in addition, the necessary range of technologies is available and is being developed. As a result, to date, several countries are not only conducting research, but also developing full-fledged combat laser systems.
In recent years, several domestic developments of this kind have become known. It is noteworthy that they are officially talked about after the completion of the main part of the work, when the equipment entered the landfills and shows its capabilities. This gives cause for optimism and suggests that Russian developments in the field of lasers - including a recently tested sample - will not be inferior to modern foreign systems.
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