Ukraine Announces New 'Tryzub' Laser Weapon, Capable of Targeting Aircraft

Ukraine now possesses laser weaponry, named ‘Tryzub,’ according to Colonel Vadym Sukharevskyi, Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems.

“We can confidently state that Ukraine has become, as far as I know, the fifth country in the world to have laser weapons,” Sukharevskyi announced during the "European Defense Industry: Prospects for Cooperation with Ukraine’s Defense Industry" conference.

“Today, we can already use this laser to shoot down aircraft at altitudes exceeding 2 kilometers.”

Sukharevskyi highlighted that efforts are underway to scale and enhance the capabilities of the Tryzub laser.

“It truly works, it truly exists,” he emphasized.

Speaking about the broader scope of the Unmanned Systems Forces, Sukharevskyi noted, “We are less than six months old, yet we already have combat and research units addressing air, land, and water components.”

He added that the Unmanned Systems Forces are actively operating across the entire frontline.

Previously, British Royal Air Forces announced they are “one step closer to being equipped with a cutting-edge laser self-protection system, following 100% successful live-fire trials,” the UK Government stated on October 20, 2024. The DragonFire is an LDEW system and “a potential game changer for air defense,” former Defense Secretary John Healy said. 

Sources report that the DragonFire will be in the hands of the British Navy from 2027.