Ukraine already uses lasers to shoot down drones. The system can be carried in a vehicle and produces neither noise nor visible beams
Ukraine has begun using a prototype laser weapon to intercept Russian drones in an effort to respond to increasingly frequent airstrikes. The information was reported by American journalist Simon Shuster in The Atlantic magazine, after a demonstration he attended.
The Ukrainian laser can also be placed on a truck/FOTO:X
According to the report, the system – called Sunray – is compact enough to be carried in a vehicle and produces neither noise nor visible beams. During the test, an operator mounted the device on a pickup truck and aimed at a drone several hundred meters away. After a few seconds, the aircraft caught fire and crashed.
A cheaper alternative?
Laser weapons are not a global novelty. The US Navy uses the Helios system, developed by Lockheed Martin under a contract worth about $150 million. The first such systems were installed on US military ships to counter drones.
But the Ukrainian developers say they built Sunray in about two years on a budget of several million dollars, and could sell the system for several hundred thousand dollars — a significant difference from Western projects.
Pavlo Elizarov, recently appointed head of Ukraine's air defense forces, says the difference reflects the pressure of war. “For us it's a matter of survival”he said, explaining that necessity drives innovation.
In search of a “shield” of his own
Amid difficulties in obtaining sufficient Western air defense systems, Kiev is trying to develop domestic solutions. Some of the American equipment is being redeployed to other regions, and some European states are hesitant to reduce their own defensive capabilities.
Ukrainian authorities are talking about creating an integrated system, comparable to Israel's “Iron Dome”, capable of intercepting drones and short-range missiles. But developing such a system is complex and expensive. A single Iron Dome battery cost, according to 2012 estimates, up to $100 million.
In parallel with laser projects, Ukrainian industry is developing interceptor drones, mobile machine gun systems and other improvised solutions, many produced by 3D printing and rapid assembly.
Interceptor drones
One of the companies involved, Skyfall, makes an interceptor drone called the P1-Sun. The device, equipped with explosives, is designed to destroy Russian Shahed drones, frequently used in attacks on Ukrainian cities.
The company says it has already produced a large number of such devices and that they have destroyed hundreds of aerial targets. The BBC cannot independently verify these figures.
The estimated cost of such an interceptor is just over $1,000 – far less than a Western air defense missile. Ukrainian officials say using expensive missiles to shoot down relatively cheap drones is not sustainable in the long term.
Challenges and limits
Neither laser systems nor interceptor drones can counter modern ballistic missiles, for which Ukraine still relies on systems such as the Patriot. The new technologies are mainly intended to combat drones and cruise missiles.
Experts also warn of the risks of the proliferation of these technologies. The cheap and easy-to-produce drones could be used outside the battlefield, including against civilian aviation, if they fell into the wrong hands.
Time pressure
The appointment of Pavlo Elizarov to head air defense comes at a time of intensifying Russian attacks. He said the goal is to integrate various locally developed systems into a coordinated network capable of rapidly reacting to threats.
“It's a matter of efficiency and survivalhe said.
On the night he officially took office, Russia launched a new wave of drones and missiles on Ukrainian infrastructure. For authorities, the pressure to deliver quick results is considerable.
For now, it remains unclear to what extent the new systems will be able to change the balance on the field. But their development reflects Ukraine's rapid adaptation to a conflict in which technology plays an increasingly important role.
