Ukraine unveils revolutionary laser weapon to counter drones
During the conference "European Defence Industry: Prospects for Cooperation with the Ukrainian Defence Industry," Ukrainians unveiled official photographs of the laser system prototype named "Tryzub" for the first time. Concurrently, a video demonstrating the system's capabilities against drones was shared on social media.
The Tryzub system is one of the more enigmatic solutions developed by the Ukrainian defence industry in recent years. Although it was officially revealed only in 2024, work on it began much earlier – according to unofficial sources, at least since 2021. This system was developed as a response to the increasing threat from Russian drones, cruise missiles, and other airborne weaponry, which pose a significant challenge to the Ukrainian army. It was developed by the Ukroboronprom consortium in collaboration with several Ukrainian technology companies and research institutes.
Tryzub - Ukrainian laser weapon
Tryzub is not a traditional air defence system. It is an integrated platform for detecting, disrupting, and physically neutralising airborne targets. It includes precise radars, optoelectronic sensors, and – most importantly – a laser combat system capable of intercepting and destroying targets using an energy beam. Although its full specifications remain confidential, the information disclosed so far indicates that Tryzub operates at short distances – up to a few kilometres – and is primarily intended for destroying low-flying drones.
Ukrainian industry media indicate that the system was tested in combat conditions by late 2023, and in 2024 the first units were put into operational service – likely in areas particularly threatened by the intense use of drones by Russia, such as the outskirts of Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, or Odessa. According to the manufacturer's declaration, Tryzub can operate almost continuously, provided it has a stable energy supply – making it a potentially revolutionary solution in combating cheap, but widely used Shahed-type kamikaze drones.
Laser systems, such as the one used in Tryzub, work by concentrating energy into a very narrow beam, possibly burning through the target's structural components, destroying its electronics, or causing an explosion in a fraction of a second. Their greatest advantage is the negligible cost of a single "shot" – no need for a missile costing tens of thousands of pounds, just electrical energy. Experts estimate that a single "shot" of such a system costs just a few pounds. Additionally, this kind of weapon is difficult to disrupt or intercept, and when properly scaled, it can operate fully autonomously.
Tryzub is compared to Israel's Iron Beam system – the laser counterpart to the Iron Dome. The latter is a good example of comparing the costs of using a laser beam vs. traditional missiles for destroying aerial targets. As mentioned, the one-time use of a laser costs about a few pounds. On the other hand, the estimated cost of a Tamir intercept missile, used in the Iron Dome air defence system, is £30,000 to £40,000.
It is worth noting that both solutions were developed in response to similar threats: the mass use of cheap, difficult-to-intercept drones and short-range missiles. The differences lie mainly in scale and technological sophistication – the Israelis have been developing Iron Beam for over a decade. In contrast, Tryzub is a project born out of wartime conditions, under the pressure of time and frontline needs. Despite this, the Ukrainian system is already garnering significant interest, not only domestically but also internationally – as an example of how technology can actually change the balance of power on the modern battlefield.
