- Trident reportedly destroyed reconnaissance drones at distances of up to 1.5 kilometers
- Ukrainian developers say laser weapon costs much less than Western systems
- The Trident laser would have effectively damaged the aircraft’s optics, electronics and structural components.
Ukrainian company Celebra Tech is putting the finishing touches on a Trident laser weapon that it says can destroy drones, helicopters and even missiles at significant distances.
The Trident burns enemy optics and structural components up to three miles away.
Western defense giants have spent huge sums on similar technology, such as the £120m DragonFire laser unveiled by Britain, but Ukrainian developers say their Trident system will cost just a tiny fraction of that.
What the Trident can actually do
Celebra Tech claims its laser system can shoot down reconnaissance drones from up to 1.5 kilometers away.
FPV drones, which have become a major threat on the battlefield with an effective range of 800 to 900 meters, have been destroyed by the system, which also damages the optics, electronics and wings of larger aircraft.
The developers claim that the Trident can hit helicopters and planes from a distance of 5 kilometers.
At 10 kilometers away, the laser still retains enough power to blind enemy surveillance equipment.
The system recently received new targeting features, including radar integration and automatic target tracking, and a reguidance system now allows operators to correct the beam during active engagement.
Tested for combat
The company revealed that a prototype called Trident-120 underwent combat testing in 2021 and 2022, when it resembled a lightweight rifle in physical form and handling.
The previous prototype successfully hit the optoelectronic equipment of Ka-52 attack helicopters and also damaged Orlan reconnaissance drones and Murom ground observation stations during these field tests.
“Today we can shoot down aircraft at an altitude of more than 2 km with this laser,” said Vadym Sukharevskiy, former commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces.
The company adds that the Trident laser system is also suitable for clearing contaminated areas, although this secondary function has not been publicly demonstrated or verified by external observers.
Celebra Tech has developed other products, including the Laurus-13F fiber optic FPV drone, and says it also works on bombers, electronic warfare equipment and specialized software packages.
The company employs only around 15 people to work on this laser development project, which seems remarkably small for such a technically ambitious weapon system.
For most of the stated kill ranges, including the 5 kilometer anti-aircraft range, no independent verification or third-party confirmation has ever been published.
The mine clearance function mentioned by the manufacturer seems particularly far from being a proven operational capability based on the available evidence.
A low-cost laser capable of resolving all aerial threats remains an attractive idea, but without proper verification it remains a theoretical project.
Via Defender Media
Follow TechRadar on Google News And add us as your favorite source to get our news, reviews and expert opinions in your feeds.
