South Korea tests next-gen laser weapon amid budget advantages

South Korea has conducted the first tests of the future Laser-based Anti-Aircraft Weapon Block-I system, which is expected to provide cost-effective neutralisation of a wide range of targets compared to current solutions. Here, we present what is known about the South Korean laser.

The tested South Korean laser has a 20-kilowatt design and is intended for use by the South Korean land forces. It is a stationary solution, while the Block-II variant will be mobile. A more powerful Block-III variant is also being developed for use on ships.

These systems will complement 40 mm anti-aircraft and anti-drone gun systems. Loaded with anti-tank ammunition, they are better suited for countering more armoured targets, which the laser cannot handle. South Korea is developing the weapons of the future, similar to what the Americans or the British are doing.

Laser weapons, a standard element of the science fiction universe, are becoming closer to reality. Once introduced into service, they will largely replace classical anti-aircraft gun systems because eliminating targets such as drones or cruise missiles will be easier and cheaper.

Due to the speed of light, lasers provide pinpoint accuracy over a few kilometres. The only downside is the beam's dispersion with distance, which affects its power and susceptibility to weather conditions. Due to faster beam dispersion, the range of the laser will be lower on foggy or rainy days.

Another advantage is the cost of shooting down targets, costing only a few pounds compared to, for example, the Skynex system, where a multi-round series can cost several thousand pounds (depending on the type of ammunition). Meanwhile, with the laser, the only cost is the electricity.

This allows for the elimination of light targets such as drones or cruise missiles at very low cost. Only heavily armoured targets like penetrating warheads or aircraft bombs can withstand the beam long enough to strike the target.

Lasers eliminate their targets through high temperatures, which can melt, for example, a drone or, by heating the casing of a cruise missile, cause the warhead or rocket fuel to detonate. Laser weapons will provide South Korea with a significant increase in capabilities against particularly cheap and massively used drones.