Ukraine Develops Laser Weapon Capable of Downing Aircraft at an Altitude of 2 km

Colonel Vadym Sukharevskyi, Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, who we previously interviewed, announced the development of a new type of weapon—a laser weapon. The project, called Trident (Trizub), is already undergoing testing.

Details are scarce, as the development was conducted in secrecy, so technical specifications remain undisclosed. According to Sukharevskyi, the laser can down an aircraft at altitudes over 2 km. He added that Ukraine continues to enhance and scale up the laser but emphasized that the weapon already exists and works.

It is likely that the system will soon enter industrial production, and the number of installations will be scaled up for practical deployment. These lasers are expected to target Shahed drones, which Russia uses to attack Ukraine almost daily. For instance, over 5,000 of such drones were launched in the fall of 2024 alone.

For Ukraine, this development is critically important, as it relies on the supply of anti-aircraft ammunition and missiles from its European partners. Another significant advantage is cost efficiency. Missiles cost tens of thousands of dollars, while a single laser shot costs only a few dozen dollars.

"We can state that today Ukraine is, if I am not mistaken, the fifth country that can claim to possess a laser weapon," clarified Sukharevskyi.

Ukrainian military analysts suggest that Trident may share characteristics with the British DragonFire system. The British weapon has a power output of 50 kW and a similar firing range of about 2 km.

Developing such a weapon is a complex endeavor. At this point, it is unknown when Ukraine started the project, who its partners were, and other specifics. Globally, very few countries possess operational laser systems. The aforementioned DragonFire is expected to be deployed in the UK only by 2027.

Who else, besides Trident, is present in this market:

• U.S.A. P-HEL: Details are limited, but the weapon has reportedly been successfully used in the Middle East.

• British DragonFire: The system is promised to Ukraine for testing in real combat situations. Initial tests demonstrated 100% target elimination, with each shot costing only $13.

• South Korean Block-I: Designed to down drones and UAVs, it has already passed successful tests. South Korea is now developing a second-generation version capable of targeting larger objects.

• Israeli Iron Beam: Unlike missiles costing $40,000 per shot, each Iron Beam shot costs just $3. The system can target objects at altitudes ranging from a few hundred meters to several kilometers. The Israeli government plans to deploy Iron Beam within a year.