Ukraine completes testing of the Trident laser system.
The Trident laser in a towed configuration
Ukraine continues to search for means to combat Russian strike forces drones, capable of complementing expensive anti-aircraft missiles in work against high-volume and low-cost targets. One such solution was the Trident combat laser system. On May 7, 2026, the developer unveiled it in an updated, towed configuration and announced the transition to final state trials. Amid daily strikes by Geranium and FPV-drones laser Defense acquires a practical, rather than theoretical, meaning, and the Trident has already gone from being a testbed demonstrator to a prototype undergoing testing in combat units.
What was shown in May 2026
The Tryzub is being developed by the Ukrainian company Celebra Tech, with the participation of foreign suppliers of key components, primarily the emitter and optics. The work is being carried out under the supervision of the Ministry of Defense.
On May 7, the company unveiled a new version of the system, significantly different from what had been shown previously. While the first version consisted of a set of individual units "for testing," the current version is designed as a single towed unit with all the necessary equipment. In addition to mechanical refinements, key changes occurred in the internals: during the second half of 2025, Celebra Tech essentially rewrote the software, moving away from classic machine vision in favor of a fully-fledged neural network guidance model. This, rather than cosmetic changes to the hull, was the main highlight of the year.
According to the developer, the system has passed "final tests" and confirmed its ability to combat small and medium-sized UAVs. Concurrent tests against larger targets, primarily the Geran-2, are underway, but the results have not been disclosed.
Following state testing, the Trident is expected to be officially accepted into service. Celebra Tech's stated production capacity is 10-15 systems per month with stable funding. A large-scale government order for thousands of units is not yet in place: the main limiting factor is the high cost of the emitter components.
Project chronology
The project began in 2023–2024. The Tryzub was first publicly shown at the end of 2024, already as a prototype, practicing firing at aerial targets at a training ground.
In February 2025, the Ukrainian command announced the start of the Tryzub deployment. In April of that year, the Ukrainian Armed Forces' Unmanned Systems Command released a video of field tests: the laser was used against a ground target and an FPV drone. At that stage, the system was still positioned as an experimental counter-UAV weapon.
A prototype that had been tested previously
The second half of 2025 was a period of extensive modernization. In addition to refinements to the emitter and cooling system, AI guidance was integrated into the system, allowing for automated acquisition and tracking of high-speed targets. By February 2026, Western media (in particular, The Atlantic) reported the actual operation of the modernized emitter against target drones, burning through the hull and optics "in a matter of seconds." By May 2026, according to various sources, 5-8 prototypes had been delivered to combat units (primarily to the Unmanned Systems Forces and mobile air defense groups). They are used in targeted applications: to cover headquarters and critical infrastructure from reconnaissance UAVs, artillery.
What is the towable version?
The base is a two-axle truck trailer. The bow houses a large enclosure concealing the power plant, the central section houses a laser system mounted on a slewing ring, and the stern houses auxiliary systems. Hydraulic jacks are provided for leveling.
The emitter, unlike the earlier prototype, is enclosed in a metal casing. This is a smart solution both for protecting the optics and for concealment. The traverse system provides aiming over wide sectors in both axes.
The system is based on a fiber laser. The choice is understandable: solid-state circuits are sensitive to vibrations during transport on frontline roads, and chemical lasers, with their toxic components, are fundamentally unsuitable for mobile teams. The fiber laser provides high beam quality (M² < 1,1) and an efficiency of approximately 30–35%, allowing the system to be powered by battery packs rather than a bulky generator.
The laser's nominal power is 5 kW, with a peak output of up to 7 kW. This is significantly lower than that of Western flagships like the DragonFire or HELIOS, but sufficient for the primary task: at a distance of up to 1 km, the laser can burn through the plastic body of an FPV drone or disable the uncooled camera sensor in 1,5–2 seconds. Larger targets, such as the Orlan, require maintaining the beam on a critical component (fuel tank, control unit) for 3–5 seconds.
The system's power supply is based on a hybrid design: an integrated LiFePO4 battery pack is designed for approximately 40-50 engagement cycles, after which it requires recharging from the mains or a generator in the trailer's front casing. Cooling is provided by a closed-loop liquid circuit with active cooling; the 2025 prototypes featured passive cooling, which caused the system to "fall asleep" after 3-4 shots. The typical cycle of the new version is 30 seconds of continuous firing followed by 60 seconds of cooling. In short-pulse FPV mode, the system can engage up to 15-20 targets in a row before critical overheating.
Declared tactical and technical characteristics:
- FPV drone strike range: 800–900 m (confirmed);
- the range of destruction of reconnaissance UAVs (Orlan-10, ZALA) is up to 1,500 m (confirmed in real interceptions);
- The expected range of destruction of the Geranium is up to 5 km (not confirmed);
- the potential range of destruction of aircraft and helicopters is up to 5 km (not confirmed);
- height of damage - up to 2 km;
- Optics suppression range - up to 10 km (under ideal conditions).
A major leap in software
While the Tryzub's mechanics appear to be an engineering compromise by May 2026, as its power is limited by battery power, it is its AI guidance that makes the system competitive.
The architecture is built on a cascade of neural networks: the light model continuously scans a 120° sector for movement, while the heavy model activates upon detection and classifies the object according to the "bird/civilian drone/military UAV/projectile" scheme. The time from detection to beam targeting is approximately 0,2 seconds, which is critical for FPV interception at speeds exceeding 100 km/h. The tracking algorithm calculates the motion vector and directs the beam preemptively to the calculated rendezvous point. This solved the main problem of earlier versions: beam "jitter" during abrupt drone maneuvers, which caused energy to dissipate across the body instead of concentrating on a single point.
A special feature of the 2026 version is automatic selection of a vulnerable zone. The AI doesn't aim at the geometric center of the target, but instead tries to lock the beam onto the optical module or the plastic propeller mount. This reduces the time to engage small drones to a second and saves battery life. A "swarm" mode is also announced: after destroying one target, the mirrors instantly move to the next.
A significant tactical advantage is that the system operates via passive optical and thermal imaging channels, emitting no radio signals until fired. It remains "silent" to enemy electronic reconnaissance, unlike traditional anti-aircraft systems with active radar. Target designation from external sources is also possible: a compact radar is integrated and data is received from other air defense systems.
Control post of the experimental complex
Shot economy
The main argument in favor of laser air defense is the cost of target acquisition. According to open estimates, a single Trident "fire" (battery power consumption and optics lifespan) costs a few dollars; this is comparable to foreign equivalents, where the cost per shot is estimated at $1-$13. For comparison, a Stinger SAM missile costs approximately $120, an IRIS-T SLM missile over $400, and a Patriot PAC-3 missile around $4 million. Even the relatively inexpensive Strela-10 anti-aircraft missile costs tens of thousands of dollars per launch.
With a typical Geran costing $35–$50 and an FPV drone costing $400–$1000, the economics of a traditional air defense system are unprofitable. A laser reverses this balance, provided the system is physically capable of hitting its target. This is why even the low-power Trizub makes sense as a weapon against the most common threat: FPV and tactical reconnaissance aircraft.
The cost of the system itself is not disclosed, but indirect indications place it at approximately $1-2 million per unit. At the rate at which air defense missiles are consumed during massive attacks, the payback for such a system is measured in months.
In the context of global analogues
In terms of emitter power, the Trident belongs to the light segment of combat lasers, essentially in the same niche as the Turkish Gökberk. The comparison isn't favorable in terms of power, but it shouldn't be: the Trident was deliberately designed for the most common target class, including FPV drones and tactical reconnaissance aircraft. The developer emphasizes the software component, namely AI guidance and passive mode, rather than brute force, as the Ukrainian system's main competitive advantage.
What raises questions
The confirmed characteristics appear realistic and correspond to the physics of the process. Interception of reconnaissance UAVs at a range of 1,5 km and FPV at a range of 800–900 m are levels objectively achievable for a 5–7 kW fiber laser. However, some claims warrant skepticism.
The Geranium missile's range is 5 km. With a power of 5 kW, this isn't a "future" prospect, but rather a marketing figure. The Geranium-2 has a metal body and a robust engine compartment. Reliable destruction requires either tens of seconds of beam sustainment, which is impossible due to the energy and cooling balance, or a power 4-10 times higher. Without a fundamentally new emitter, this figure will remain on paper.
Optics jamming range up to 10 km. This parameter is highly dependent on atmospheric transparency, sensor sensitivity, and the angle of attack. Under favorable conditions, this figure is achievable, but under typical field conditions, it's unlikely.
Weather limitations. According to the developer, the efficiency of a 5-kilowatt beam drops by 60-70% in dense fog or heavy rain. In the European theater of operations, this means the system will operate with reduced performance for a significant portion of the year, especially in autumn and early spring. This factor is inherent to all laser systems in this class, but for the low-power Trizub, it is more critical than for systems like DragonFire.
The vulnerability of the system itself. The towed trailer is a static, heat-generating, and optically visible target. A laser shot reveals its position: the infrared beam is detected by reconnaissance assets, and the system itself requires several minutes to reposition after deployment. This poses a serious risk when the enemy is hunting air defense systems (using Lancet missiles and reconnaissance and strike contours). There are two solutions: either operate from deep within the defense or frequently change positions, which reduces the density of cover. In either case, the system's value is diminished.
Delivery volumes. Five to eight prototypes by May 2026 are still just a proof-of-concept test, not a weapon capable of impacting the operational situation. The road to a large-scale effect on the front lines, meaning a production run of tens and hundreds of units, is still far off.
Сonclusion
The Tryzub has proven to be a significant achievement for the Ukrainian defense industry: in a year and a half, the project has evolved from a field demonstrator to a towed prototype undergoing state testing and targeted military use. Its niche is a lightweight combat laser for countering small UAVs, and in this niche, the claimed performance is borne out by practice. The developer's main achievement lies not in the emitter's power, but in the integration of a fully-fledged neural network guidance model and passive operating mode. It is the AI component, not the hardware, that gives the Tryzub the potential to fill the niche of a low-cost weapon against FPV and tactical reconnaissance aircraft, where the economics of firing anti-aircraft missiles have long been unprofitable.
At the same time, advertising promises of defeating Geranium missiles and heavy vehicles at a range of 5 km with the current power of 5-7 kW seem like a blatant pre-emption and resemble more a ploy to woo an investor than a technically sound plan. The question of the system's survivability under enemy air defense hunting also remains open. The true combat value of the Tryzub will be determined not at the test site, but in mass deployment and the first statistically significant interception data. Until then, a definitive assessment of the system remains premature.
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