Until they lit up. How a classified combat laser stopped UAV raids

Large-scale military exercises of the Russian Army are planned in Syria, in which the main participant will be the Peresvet complex. At the same time, there is still no official report that this combat laser system has been delivered to Syria. The military does not confirm the information about him, but they do not refute it either.

Unofficial sources report that the first Russian laser systems appeared in Syria back in May 2020. A number of tests were carried out, which confirmed the combat characteristics of the laser, after which the complex stood up for the protection of the Russian military airbase Khmeimim and currently performs air and missile defense tasks. Syria has become an ideal testing ground for testing this type of weapons. 

It is the presence of “Peresvet” that experts are trying to explain the cessation of raids on the enemy UAV airbase. Based on this experience, it is assumed that Russia will actively use the laser to protect its military bases from unmanned aircraft raids. 

The first mention of this laser weapon appeared in 2018. It was stated that the “Peresvet” was adopted by the Russian army and will be used to ensure the deployment of strategic mobile systems “Topol-M”, “Yars” and their modifications. Most of the information about the complex is classified, but it is known thatcombat lasers of this type are designed to illuminate optical surveillance systems during a “dangerous” period of time when the systems are deployed in the positional area and are most vulnerable to weapons of destruction. According to experts, the laser weapon is located at least at five bases of the Strategic Missile Forces, hangars have been built for it, which are visible from the satellite.

The principle of operation of the complex is based on the illumination of optical reconnaissance systems, including satellites, with a laser beam. Its disadvantages include demanding weather conditions, since clouds, smoke, rain and other adverse events can interfere with the passage of the laser beam. In normal weather conditions, the laser can hit the optical surveillance systems of aircraft,drones and even satellites. Neither the speed nor the trajectory of enemy objects interfere with accurate guidance. The use of such weapons to destroy enemy aircraft and cruise missiles is much more economical than standard air defense and missile defense systems, since it does not require the launch of expensive anti-missiles. 

At the same time, according to some experts, the weapon consumes so much energy that its mobility is questionable.

Источник aif.ru

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