In the next 3-5 years, laser systems may become the key weapon for combating unmanned aerial vehicles. This was stated by Alexey Rogozin, General Director of the ANO "Center for the Development of Transport Technologies".
Advantages of laser weapons:
- High target engagement speed. The laser beam travels at the speed of light, allowing drones to be destroyed instantly.
- No need for ammunition. Laser systems are effective against a swarm of drones, they do not require ammunition and are limited only by the energy supply.
- Low visibility and high accuracy. Integrated artificial intelligence allows calculating the trajectory of the target and reducing the likelihood of errors. Adaptive optics compensate for atmospheric distortions.
- Existing experience. Domestic experimental systems «Задира» and «Пересвет» and foreign analogues have already demonstrated their effectiveness in the field.
Despite the obvious advantages of lasers (low cost per shot compared to launching an anti-aircraft missile), the technology has a number of limitations. The key problem remains energy consumption.
High-energy lasers require powerful, compact, and mobile energy sources, which are still under development. The effectiveness of lasers can also be reduced in adverse weather conditions (rain, fog, or snow).
However, laser technologies can become a complement to traditional air defense systems, especially in the context of massive drone attacks. The development and implementation of such systems in the coming years can increase the country's defense capability.
Earlier www1.ru reported that Russian combat lasers «Задира» and «Пересвет» могут become an alternative to air defense systems.
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