Ukraine unveils trident: The rise of modern laser warfare
Laser weaponry evokes a wide range of emotions. It's often associated with science fiction films like "Star Wars" or "Star Trek," yet it is gradually becoming integrated into modern military practices.
Laser weaponry is one type of directed-energy weapon, along with microwave, plasma, and sonic weapons. A laser emits an electromagnetic beam using the phenomenon of stimulated emission, characterized by a beam with low divergence.
In a brief moment, it can produce a beam at the speed of light, offering remarkable accuracy for military applications. Lasers have been utilized in the military for decades, originally for weapon targeting (through various methods) or measuring the distance to a target (via laser rangefinders). Today, with devices producing power in the range of several kilowatts or more, it is feasible to create laser "cannons."
These devices are capable of blinding the enemy's electro-optics and, in the case of higher power systems, even destroying lightly built devices such as drones. The enhancement of military laser power will eventually allow them to engage increasingly "harder" targets like aircraft or lighter vehicles.
The benefits of laser weaponry include extremely high accuracy, effectively ensuring a hit as long as the target is within range and as long as the fire control system and laser guidance are functioning properly. Moreover, a "shot" from a laser is extraordinarily economical.
A single "shot" costs several dozen to several hundred Canadian dollars, whereas a medium-calibre artillery shell costs hundreds or even thousands of dollars, often requiring multiple 20 to 40 mm shells to neutralize an airborne target. Rocket munitions are even more expensive, costing hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars, although they provide significant effectiveness. If, for example, a drone costs between several thousand to several tens of thousands of dollars, the economics become clear.
However, lasers are still developing and remain sensitive to weather, limiting their effective range (which means they won't replace rockets anytime soon). The beam cannot bypass terrain obstacles, and firing requires storing and transmitting relatively large amounts of energy, which remains a formidable challenge. Yet, these obstacles are not insurmountable.
The debut of the Trident
Recently, the Armed Forces of Ukraine unveiled their purportedly indigenous Trident system. This system is reported to effectively counter low-flying targets, understood by experts to include flying bombs from the Shahed family, various drones, and more.
Col. Vadim Sukharevskyi, who disclosed information about the Trident and is the commander of drone units in the Ukrainian army, has provided limited details. The weapon's existence was revealed in December last year, and since then, it has reportedly been used in combat. However, it remains uncertain whether it’s a single prototype or if there are more units. Most crucially, it's unclear if it is Ukrainian-manufactured weaponry at all.
Contemporary laser weaponry
The concept of using lasers as a weapon isn't new and isn't confined to science fiction. Notable examples include the Soviet mobile system 1K17 on the chassis of the self-propelled 2S19 Msta-S gun (a 12-channel laser optical system using an artificial ruby weighing about 30 kg) or the American airborne YAL-1 (utilizing a Boeing 747-400F platform). Today’s lasers are greatly evolved from these early systems as well as from devices in popular culture, now resembling old anti-aircraft searchlights or optoelectronic heads: they’re hence not especially visually compelling.
Currently, many countries are investing in "laser cannons." The term is vague since these "cannons" can range from several to several hundred or more kilowatts of power. Eventually, they may be integrated onto platforms across all domains. Initially, lasers are expected to serve predominantly defensive roles, destroying threats from beyond the front line: rockets, drones, artillery shells, mortars… In this capacity, they are intended to gradually (at least partially) replace low-calibre cannons of limited effectiveness, for which destroying a target is relatively costly.
It's unsurprising that one of the development focuses is the installation of lasers on ships, which (theoretically) offer ample space and energy reserves. One of the most documented programs is the British DragonFire, developed by a consortium including MBDA UK, Leonardo, and QinetiQ, under the auspices of the government DSTL centre. According to MBDA statements, DragonFire can track and hit an object the size of a one-pound coin from a distance of about 1 km.
The core component of the system is a 50 kW laser, extensively tested over several years. The cost of firing (lasting about 10 seconds) is estimated at around £10. The laser is intended for Type 45 destroyers as well as Type 23, 26, and 31 frigates. In 2024, there was media speculation about the possible delivery of one DragonFire unit (in a land configuration) to Ukraine as military aid—it is possible that the Trident is, in fact, simply the British "DragonFire."
In Germany, a similar device was tested on a Sachsen-class frigate 124. Tests from 2022-2023 demonstrated the ability of a device developed by MBDA Deutschland and Rheinmetall Waffe Munition to neutralize aerodynamic targets. The entire system was housed in a 20-foot container temporarily installed amidships.
Meanwhile, the US Navy was progressing with the HELIOS program, initially producing a laser with power up to 60 kW (with plans to increase up to 150 kW), then to 150-300 kW, ultimately exceeding 500 kW. The first iteration was a demonstrative device tested, for instance, on the Arleigh Burke Flight IIA destroyer; however, future production models aim to serve for the self-defence of American ships.
On land, the US is also advancing, though with mixed results. In the summer of 2024, successful efforts were reported towards developing a 50 kW DE M-SHORAD laser on a Stryker vehicle platform and a palletized P-HEL with power of 20 kW. Interestingly, the lighter system had shown slightly higher effectiveness earlier. Ultimately, the main carrier of defensive lasers for the US Army is to be the JLTV tactical vehicle due to its widespread application. In future scenarios, the US plans for a device with power adequate to destroy a target from up to 10 km away (requiring target effectiveness with power of 40 kW/m²).
Other nations are keen not to fall behind; for instance, China is developing the Laser Arrow system on a 6x6 tactical vehicle chassis, and Israel is progressing with the 100 kW (ultimately 300 kW) Iron Beam at a "shot" cost of about CAD 4.5, with accelerated development following the outbreak of conflict in the Gaza Strip.
Lasers are also expected to return to the skies. On one hand, they are to be standalone and vital armaments mounted on unmanned platforms (e.g., MQ-9 Reaper) and, in this form, intended to counter enemy missiles or drones. On the other, some experts suggest that lasers might serve as a type of active protection system for 5th and 6th generation fighter jets, focusing on destroying anti-aircraft missiles.
