Today we are going to talk about laser weapons, a revolutionary technology that has already managed to change many industries, from medicine to industry.
Principle of laser operation
In a laser, a process called “stimulated emission” takes place. First, an energy source (generator, battery, chemical reaction, etc.) excites atoms or molecules in the active medium (e.g., crystal, gas, or fiber). In the excited state, these particles are ready to emit photons. Using lenses and mirrors, the beam is ‘compressed’ to a minimum diameter. This dramatically increases the energy density, so there is strong local heating at the point of contact with the target. Since the laser is a stream of light, radiation occurs at a speed close to 300 thousand kilometers per second.
As a result, lasers have quickly become the new buzzword in military weaponry, as they provide extreme accuracy, speed, and are also cost-effective. With the advent of more and more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which play a significant role in modern warfare, laser weapons are rapidly gaining popularity as an effective means of defense against such aerial threats.
So, what do we know about the use of lasers against airborne targets? The essence is that laser weapons disarm the target by directing a powerful beam at it, which “burns” critical parts or electronics. This method of defeat has several significant advantages. Firstly, it happens virtually instantaneously, so the object will not have time to react. Secondly, the cost of each “shot” is much lower than traditional methods, and most importantly – the aiming occurs with amazing accuracy. High-energy lasers (HEL) neutralize targets with virtually no collateral damage, making them ideal for the modern battlefield.
This is the current state of laser systems, examples of their practical applications and the prospects they offer. That we will consider.
Advantages of laser weapons
- Cost-effectiveness: the cost per shot from a laser system is much lower than traditional missile interceptors, which is important for countering numerous low-cost UAVs, and ranges from $1 to $10.
- Speed: lasers operate at the speed of light, reacting instantly to swift targets.
- Unlimited ammunition: as long as there is a power source, the laser can fire shots without having to reload.
Difficulties
- Sensitivity to weather conditions: fog, rain or dust can reduce the effectiveness of laser light.
- Large power requirements: high-energy lasers require significant power supplies, which limits their deployment on mobile platforms without the necessary power resources.
- Range limitations: today, the effective range of lasers is typically shorter than that of some conventional missile systems, which may narrow their applications.
Key questions about laser as a weapon
What is the capacity of such systems?
To do this, we need to understand what 1 kW is and how to turn it into a beam. Before we talk about the temperature from the laser beam (simplistically it is the heating that will cause damage to the target), it is important to understand that laser power (in watts or kW) is a flow of energy, not directly an amount of heat or temperature. The temperature in the irradiated area depends on many factors:
- laser wavelength
- material attenuation coefficient (the same beam can strongly heat a black coating and hardly heat a metallic surface reflecting it).
- exposure time and spot area (spot exposure or defocused).
- thermal conductivity and heat capacity of the material, as well as heat dissipation conditions (environment, cooling, etc.).
So, to heat a 10 m2 room, we usually need about 1 kW of thermal power, but this is diffused heat. To hit the target, we need to focus it to the smallest possible diameter using special lenses.
Knowing the necessary parameters, let us try to determine approximately how a plate made of aluminum (we choose it as a standard material for light aircraft with constant heat capacity parameters) will heat up at a distance of 100 m at different power. Having made standard calculations of power density taking into account the absorption coefficient of the material, we can calculate the temperature rise in time. For 1 kW ≈ 1.27×10^5 W/m^2. When taking into account ~10% absorption by aluminum, the real value will be ten times less, hence:
At 1-10 kW, if the focal point is large (a few cm) and the aluminum reflects most of the light, heating may be moderate (superficial). No significant damage.
At 100 kW and above, significant melting can be achieved. But it all depends on the quality of focus and the time of action.
At 1 MW (1000 kW), very rapid and intense heating (melting, vaporization or even explosive action) is possible with good focus point control and proper aiming.
We conclude that the main idea is this: the higher the power and better the focus, the higher the temperature and the faster the melting of the target.
Can the laser hit targets created from composites, wood, ABS plastic?
High-energy lasers direct a powerful beam of light at a target, damaging or destroying it. Materials like composites, wood and ABS plastics may well be damaged, depending on the laser power and duration of exposure. Research confirms that carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP) are also subject to laser damage.
Analyzing the sample after laser irradiation (front and back in the top left and top right images) with CT scans (cross-sectional image below) allows quantification of the damaged volume and derivation of damage models.
What is the average size of these systems?
Laser systems are categorized by size, weight and mobility, which determines their purpose and deployment. Many systems are designed specifically for integration into military vehicles and other mobile platforms, allowing them to be deployed in a variety of locations. The following is a gradation from lightweight mobile systems to large fixed installations.
Portable and mobile laser systems. Weight up to 100kg (up to 25 kW)
Northrop Grumman’s Phantom: a compact 10 kW, less than 90kg, mini-fridge-sized laser system intended for rapid deployment on vehicles or in the field.
Medium-sized mobile laser systems. Weights from 100 kg to several tonnes (over 25 kW)
HELWS: A British laser launcher that is mounted on an armored vehicle and is capable of engaging UAVs at a range of more than 1 km. It is equipped with a 10 kW laser.
Large stationary laser systems. Weighing tens of tonnes or more
Stationary deployment on military bases, ships or in specially equipped buildings.
AN/SEQ-3 Laser Weapon System (LaWS): an American laser system installed on US Navy warships for defense against UAVs and small craft.
What size battery is needed for the laser?
The energy requirements depend on the laser power. Some systems (e.g., Taiwanese lasers on armored vehicles) have sufficient onboard power. Others require an additional source.
How much do these complexes cost?
The cost varies considerably. The development of the UK’s DragonFire is estimated to cost around £100 million, while at the same time, the cost per shot can be as low as around 10 pence.
What specific technology is being used?
Solid-state lasers, predominantly fiber lasers, are most often used due to their efficiency and scalability. High-precision optoelectronic targeting systems also play an important role.
What materials are needed for production?
- Laser active medium: e.g. ytterbium (Yb) impurity fiber in fiber lasers
- Optical components: high-quality lenses and mirrors
- Heat dissipation systems: high thermal conductivity materials for cooling applications
Can a laser be used as a space weapon?
Theoretically, lasers in space can be even more efficient due to the lack of atmosphere (minimal beam scattering). However, the challenges are related to power supply, heat dissipation and precise pointing in space conditions.
What is the reason for the increase in overall size when power is increased?
- Energy requirements: to form a beam capable of disabling a target, large generators or power supplies are needed.
- Cooling systems: The laser generates a lot of heat during operation, so it requires powerful cooling devices. This adds weight and bulk, making miniaturization difficult.
- Beam control and optics: Precision guidance requires complex optical components. Reducing their size without sacrificing performance is an engineering challenge.
The development of smaller power supplies, advanced cooling systems and miniaturized optical components is key. The use of semiconductor lasers and the latest heat dissipation techniques may enable smaller laser samples.
Cost comparison between lasers and conventional weapons
Laser weapons are extremely economical to use. While missiles to destroy UAVs can cost tens of thousands of dollars per launch, a laser shot can cost a few dollars or even cents.
- Laser weapons: $1-$10 per shot.
- Missiles versus UAVs: $50,000 to $150,000 per intercept.
This difference makes lasers a very attractive option against swarms of cheap UAVs that are used to deplete air defenses.
How can they affect Ukraine’s air defense?
Laser weapons would significantly strengthen Ukraine’s air defense system, allowing it to economically and accurately disarm UAVs and missiles while reducing its reliance on expensive conventional interception methods.
Examples of working laser systems
DragonFire (UK)
DragonFire is a British laser-directed energy weapon system developed by the UK DragonFire consortium. The system is designed to engage air and sea targets using high-precision laser beams.
It uses beam-combining technology, which provides a total beam power of about 50 kW. As the manufacturer notes, this allows the system to quickly hit targets, in particular UAVs and even mortar shells. The system is capable of hitting objects the size of a coin at a distance of up to a kilometer. The estimated cost per shot is about 10 pence.
Development began in 2017 with an investment of around £100 million. In January 2024, the system was successfully tested at a range in the Hebrides Islands in Scotland, during which it hit aerial targets.
DragonFire is planned to be integrated into warships of the UK Royal Navy by 2027. In addition, the possibility of transferring prototypes of these weapons to Ukraine for defense against UAVs and missiles is being considered.
Directed Energy Stryker (USA)
The Directed Energy Stryker is the latest development of the US Army, designed to combat unmanned aerial vehicles using energy weapons. This system is based on the Stryker armored personnel carrier and is equipped with a 26 kW laser cannon capable of destroying UAV categories 1-3 (mass up to 600 kg) at altitudes up to 5,486 m and speeds up to 463 km/h. The development is the result of cooperation between Leonardo DRS and BlueHalo.
In September 2024, the system was successfully tested at the Soccoro Proving Ground in New Mexico, during which it destroyed several UAVs over two days.
The US Army has already deployed laser systems overseas to destroy enemy UAVs, a significant step in the development of systems for air defense.
Iron Beam is an Israeli laser-based air defense system developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems in cooperation with Elbit Systems. The system is designed to destroy various airborne threats such as rockets, artillery and mortar shells, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The system uses a 100 kW high-energy laser capable of destroying targets up to 10 kilometers away. Iron Beam can focus the laser beam to a size of 2 cm at a distance of several kilometers, which ensures high accuracy.
Development of Iron Beam began in 2014, and in 2022 the system successfully passed a series of tests during which it intercepted UAVs, mortar shells and rockets. In October 2024, the Israeli Ministry of Defence signed an agreement worth 2 billion shekels (approximately $536 million) to expand Iron Beam’s production. The system is expected to be operational in 2025.
Silent Hunter (China)
Silent Hunter is a Chinese laser-based air defense system developed by Poly Technologies.
The system uses an electrically powered fiber optic laser with adjustable power from 30 to 100 kW. The maximum range of target engagement is up to 4 kilometers. It is noted that the laser is capable of burning through five 2 mm thick steel plates at a distance of 800 meters or one 5 mm thick plate at a distance of 1,000 meters.
Saudi Arabia has acquired at least eight Silent Hunter systems to defend against UAV and missile attacks. In 2022, it was reported that Iranian Shahed-136s were successfully intercepted with this system with 100 percent effectiveness.
Announcement of Ukrainian laser weapon “Trident”
In December 2024, Ukraine unveiled its newest laser system, Trident, capable of neutralizing aerial targets at altitudes of more than 2 km. This event puts Ukraine on the list of the few described states that already have their operational laser systems in service.
According to the announced characteristics, Trident will be able to hit targets at a distance of more than 2 kilometers. Although systems such as Israel’s Iron Beam or Britain’s DragonFire have a larger range and higher power, the main advantage of Trident is its compactness and design to meet Ukraine’s specific defense needs. Such as defeating ultra-cheap UAVs used to deplete air defenses and made of plywood or Styrofoam.
What is the future of laser weapons?
Today, laser weapons are seen as a promising field that could become widespread in the near future. Technology is developing rapidly, competition among manufacturers is growing, and military budgets are expanding with a focus on making drone destruction cheaper and providing more effective defense solutions.
However, can laser systems hit missiles as easily as cheap UAVs? According to the developers, some types of missiles are exposed to high-energy beams: in laboratory conditions, lasers have managed to burn through thin composite and, according to some sources, even 5-millimeter metal plates. However, detailed information on actual combat tests is almost non-existent. The most of data is limited to marketing claims or secret projects. From a technical point of view, the possibility exists, but without clear evidence of effectiveness in real combat applications, many questions arise. However, as military budgets expand and engineering solutions evolve, laser systems may play an increasingly important role in missile and anti-missile defense soon.
