Ukrainian Forces Deploy Laser Weapon “Tryzub” for Downing Aircraft

16 December, 2024 Testing of the DragonFire laser system. Photo: MoD UK The Ukrainian Defense Forces are already using laser weapons that can shoot down airborne targets.

This was reported by Colonel Vadym Sukharevsky, commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as quoted by Interfax-Ukraine news agency. "Today, Ukraine has become, if I'm not mistaken, the fifth country capable of claiming it possesses a laser weapon. With this laser, we can shoot down aircraft at altitudes exceeding 2 kilometers," Vadym Sukharevskyi stated during his address at the European Defense Industry: Prospects for Cooperation with the Ukrainian Defense Industry conference.

According to him, the laser weapon is called "Tryzub" and the Unmanned Systems Forces are currently working to scale and strengthen the laser. Vadym Sukharevskyi also discussed the use of "mother drones" within the Defense Forces, which carry lightweight attack drones capable of significantly extending their operational range. "Today we are using so-called "queen" drones, FPV carriers, with a depth of entry of more than 70 km.

They carry 2 FPVs under them and actually act as a repeater and hit deep enemy targets. As for me, this is a real breakthrough," the colonel said. Such queen drones can exist in different formats and can be based on both aircraft-type UAVs and multicopters.

For example, in September 2024, Skyeton presented a variant of the Raybird drone that is capable of performing such a task. According to the developers, it is capable of carrying an FPV strike drone to engage air/ground targets at a distance of up to 80 km, while also acting as a repeater for it.

Types of Skyeton Raybird drone at MSPO. September 2024.

Poland. Photo credits: Militarnyi

Ukrainian laser weapons

Currently, the type and characteristics of the laser weapon remain unknown. However, in April 2024, it was reported that the United Kingdom plans to transfer the first samples of the DragonFire laser air defense system to Ukraine.

DragonFire laser system during testing.

Photo: MoD UK

At the time, during an official visit to the DragonFire laboratory, UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps stated that the laser system was still in the testing phase, but the government was working to speed up development. "For example, it is not necessary for [the laser] to be 100 percent perfect for the Ukrainians to start using it. At the moment, 2027 is still the date for completion of development, but of course I will see what we can do to speed it up," Shapps said.

DragonFire is a UK-based 50+ kW power laser system. Development of the system began in 2018, led by leading UK companies such as: MBDA UK, Leonardo UK and QinetiQ Group. In March 2024, the British Ministry of Defense showed the results of one of the DragonFire tests, during which the system successfully intercepted a quadcopter and a mortar shell.

A mortar round burned by a laser.

Source: Dstl

The maximum range of destruction of air targets remains unknown.

During the tests, the system destroyed a drone and caused an artillery mine to explode in less than five seconds.