Russia is testing its cutting-edge laser weapons in Ukraine. What is known about these arms based on new physical principles? While addressing the Eastern Economic Forum earlier this month Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Russia is working on "weapons based on new physical principles" that "will ensure the security of any country in the near historical perspective."
Even though the Russian president did not elaborate what models of innovative arms he meant, Russian military observers suggested Putin's remark is more likely a reference to lasers and other high-energy, physics-based weapons.
Indeed, on March 1, 2018, Putin mentioned Russia's laser weapon for air defense and anti-satellite warfare, the Peresvet, during his address to the Federal Assembly. The Peresvet, named after a medieval Orthodox warrior monk Alexander Peresvet, entered experimental combat duty in the Russian Armed Forces in December 2018. By February 2019, the Russian president announced the laser installations had confirmed their unique characteristics along with the Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.
In May 2022, another Russian laser weapon, "the Zadira" ("Bully" or "Badass") was said to be deployed during the Ukraine conflict to shoot down Ukrainian drones.
"Yes, the first samples are already in use," Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov told a Russian broadcaster. "Our physicists have developed and are now mass-producing laser systems."
The Zadira became known to the public during the international military-technical forum ARMY-2017. At that time, the Russian Ministry of Defense and the Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Russian Federal Nuclear Center" inked a contract to carry out development work (R&D) on so-called "Zadira-16."
What is the Peresvet Laser System?
While information and technical characteristics of Russia's laser weapons are shrouded in secrecy, it is known the Peresvet is a strategic laser platform designed to disable enemy spacecraft at altitudes up to 1,500 kilometers (km).
Still, a laser with enough power to blind satellites should also be capable of hitting atmospheric aircraft, as per international military observers. Officials believe it can also "burn out" the equipment of reconnaissance aircraft and drones, and with some modifications, even physically destroy them at close range. Experts have additionally indicated the Peresvet is used to camouflage the launch positions of the RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles.
"Objectively, only one laser complex, Peresvet, is in service and is on combat duty," Yuri Knutov, military historian and publicist, director of the Museum of Air Defense Forces, told Sputnik. "This is a fairly large laser. Its characteristics are not disclosed. One can only assume, based on its size, that this laser is capable of blinding satellites and affecting unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles. And even, perhaps, for airplanes and helicopters. In any case, this laser complex is part of the mobile ground complexes that are part of the strategic missile forces. These are the Yars complexes."
In December 2020, Colonel General Sergei Karakaev, the commander of the Strategic Missile Forces, told the Russian press the Peresvet had already been tested to cover mobile ground systems on their combat patrol routes. The laser weapon doesn't allow reconnaissance satellites to determine the exact coordinates of Russia's mobile ballistic missile systems on combat duty.
What Are Anti-Drone Systems and How Do They Work?
How is the Zadira Used in Ukraine?
While the Peresvet "blinds" the enemy's systems, the Zadira burns them down. The weapon can hit an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at a distance of up to 5 km. During testing, a drone flying 5 km away was struck by the Zadira and burned out within five seconds.
"Russia's Zadira complex is already in use," Knutov said. "It is capable of operating on unmanned aerial vehicles. (…) Such complexes are installed, as a rule, on the platform of an armored car, thus they have a certain protection from enemy shrapnel and bullets. At the same time, they are practically silent. The laser beam is invisible, it is only in science fiction films that a laser beam is shown piercing the sky. In reality, the laser beam is invisible, its speed is equal to the speed of light, so the target is practically hit, consider it instantly. The cost of such a laser beam pulse is extremely low compared to anti-aircraft missiles."
"[The Zadira] is intended specifically for the zone of a special military operation, to combat drones, primarily aircraft type, and partly quadcopters. (…) And in order to destroy such a drone, of course, you need a certain guidance system. Therefore, there is an optical-electronic station; it detects the drone, takes it for automatic tracking, then the laser turns on directly and literally burns through the body of the drone. If the laser beam hits the video camera, the matrix is burned out in literally one or two seconds. And again, the drone actually loses its functions."
The Zadira could help combat enemy drones and not waste expensive missiles of Russia short-to-medium range air defense systems. Even though laser weapons are a technologically complex product, the cost of their shot is significantly lower than that from an anti-aircraft missile system (SAM). Moreover, the laser beam reaches the target almost instantly and cannot be intercepted
What Other Laser Arms Does Russia Have in Its Toolbox?
In addition to the Zadira and the Peresvet, the Russian military also mentioned the Luchezar project in their bulletins. The promising small-sized mobile laser system is designed to neutralize reconnaissance devices containing CCD matrices by effectively damaging them. A specific feature of this laser system is its lens, which allows it to destroy surveillance equipment, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Previously, the ministry noted Russia's strategic, tactical and army aircraft would also be equipped with laser systems to protect the nation's aircraft from being hit by surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles with optical homing heads.
Meanwhile, in late August, an informed source told Sputnik that Russia conducted successful field tests of a laser gun, during which it destroyed several drones of various types. Per the source, the Russian laser gun burned the aerodynamic surfaces of the UAVs or burned their body along with on-board equipment.
"An unnamed laser complex was also demonstrated at ARMY-2023," Knutov pointed out. "Its capabilities and technical characteristics were not specified. This laser system is designed to combat only unmanned aerial vehicles. Well, and, perhaps, to destroy some other air objects such as cruise missiles, which can be in the affected area for a relatively long time, that is, within about 5 seconds. But first of all, of course, this complex works on drones. It consists of two vehicles, the second one has an automatic anti-aircraft gun, which is capable of destroying drones if the weather is bad or the laser complex has not coped with its task. That is, it damages the drone, but the drone continues to fly. In any case, there has not yet been any information about the entry of these systems into service."