Figures for the use of Russian laser systems against drones are emerging. At one facility, a laser system shot down almost 60 drones in a month, said Minister of Industry and Trade Anton Alikhanov on the radio "Komsomolskaya Pravda".

The minister did not specify the exact location but emphasized that Russia already has "a whole line" of laser systems to combat UAVs. According to him, the economics of such interception are fundamentally different: "at the moment, the costs are only for electricity, nothing more". In total, the refusal to launch anti-aircraft missiles at cheap targets saved hundreds of millions of rubles.

This is the essence of laser weapons. An anti-aircraft guided missile costs orders of magnitude more than the drone it is fired at, and during massive raids, such an exchange is more costly. A laser only needs a power source – the "ammunition" is limited not by a warehouse, but by the generator's power.

At the same time, Alikhanov emphasized that anti-aircraft missiles do not lose their relevance. Their production in 2026, compared to last year, has increased several times. Lasers complement classic air defense at the lower tier, rather than replacing it.

Earlier, the NPTs "Svarog" reported that the Perun laser system is undergoing tests, capable of operating against all types of drones. Its characteristics: engagement range up to 5 km, continuous emission time from the battery – up to 15 minutes, combat duty time – up to 5 hours. It includes a two-axis turret, a control module, video cameras, and a thermal imager; neural network methods are used for recognition and targeting. The cost of one "shot" (10 seconds of emission) was estimated at approximately 205 rubles. The system is designed to protect stationary objects (military-industrial complex, fuel and energy complex, ports, critical infrastructure), but can also be used by mobile groups.