Russia shows for the first time the work of a Laser system against Ukrainian UAVs

combat laser complex / video screenshot
Фото: combat laser complex / video screenshot

Russia has for the first time shown the operation of an unnamed combat laser system, which, according to the Russian side, is already being used to protect strategic facilities from Ukrainian drones. Several such installations are allegedly on combat duty for about three months.

The footage of the system's operation was shown on August 30 by the Russian state TV channel "Rossiya". The name of the complex, its developer, power and precise characteristics are not disclosed by the Russian side.

According to Russian military correspondents, several installations have been deployed to cover strategic facilities in the southwest of the Russian Federation. In particular, laser systems allegedly surround one of the enterprises, which is regularly under threat of attacks by Ukrainian long-range UAVs.

The Russian side claims that after the deployment of the systems, no Ukrainian drone has been able to hit this object. Developers and the military also claim that several hundred UAVs have already been destroyed with the help of lasers. There is no independent confirmation of these figures.

The complex is designed for various types of drones

According to Russian claims, the system's radars are capable of detecting both small FPV drones and large strike drones of aircraft type, in particular devices of the class of Ukrainian long-range UAVs produced by Fire Point and "Liutyi".

The damage is inflicted by a directed laser beam. Russian military claim that the system can work on targets at altitudes where the use of machine guns and some other means of countering drones becomes ineffective.

At the same time, the effectiveness of laser weapons depends not only on the power of the installation, but also on the distance to the target, the time of holding the beam on it, and atmospheric conditions. The characteristics of the complex presented by the Russian side have not been independently verified.

Russia already uses lasers to protect infrastructure

Russian authorities had already claimed the practical use of laser systems against UAVs in the spring. In May, the first deputy prime minister of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov said that systems with a power from 4 to 90 kW are used to protect critical infrastructure. According to him, there are also more powerful specialized lasers, the characteristics of which are not disclosed.

The current demonstration, however, became a new stage: Russian state media for the first time showed one of these installations directly on combat duty and stated its systematic use against Ukrainian drones.

Russia has intensified the development of laser counter-drone weapons against the backdrop of regular Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries, military enterprises, airfields and other objects deep inside Russian territory.

Preparing the second generation

The Russian side also announced the preparation of more powerful new generation systems. They are planned to be tested and used against speester air targets, in particular cruise missiles and tactical aviation aircraft.

So far, there is no independent data that would confirm the ability of these systems to work effectively against such targets in real combat conditions.

Large-scale tests of Russian laser counter-drone systems took place back in June 2025. At that time, eight complexes of various power were tested at a special training ground – from mobile installations to stationary systems. After the tests, the Russian authorities announced their intention to move to serial production and scaling of such solutions.

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