- The Trident reportedly destroys reconnaissance drones from distances reaching 1.5 kilometers away
- Ukrainian developers claim that the laser weapon costs far less than Western systems
- The Trident laser reportedly effectively damages aircraft optics, electronics and structural components
Ukrainian company Celebra Tech is putting the finishing touches on a Trident laser weapon that it claims can destroy drones, helicopters and even missiles at significant distances.
The Trident fires through enemy optics and structural components from up to three miles away.
Western defense giants have spent huge sums on similar technology, such as the £120m DragonFire laser unveiled by the UK, but Ukrainian developers claim their Trident system will cost a fraction of that amount.
What Trident can actually do
Celebra Tech says its laser system can shoot down reconnaissance drones from up to 1.5 kilometers away.
FPV drones, which have become a major threat on the battlefield with an effective range of 800 to 900 meters, were destroyed by the system, which also damages the optics, electronics and wing bodies of larger aircraft.
Developers say the Trident can hit helicopters and planes at a distance of 5 kilometers.
10 kilometers away, the laser still retains enough power to blind enemy surveillance equipment.
The system recently received new targeting capabilities, including radar integration and automatic target tracking, and a redirection system now allows operators to correct the beam during active engagement.
Tested for battle
The company revealed that a prototype called the Trident-120 underwent combat testing in 2021 and 2022, as it resembled a light rifle in its physical form and handling.
The earlier prototype successfully hit the optoelectronic equipment of Ka-52 attack helicopters and also damaged Orlan reconnaissance drones and Murom ground observation stations during these field trials.
“Today we can shoot down aircraft at an altitude of over 2 km with this laser,” said Vadym Sukharevskiy, former head of the unmanned systems forces.
The company adds that the Trident laser system is also suitable for demining contaminated areas, although this secondary function has not been demonstrated publicly or verified by outside observers.
Celebra Tech has developed other products, including the Laurus-13F fiber optic FPV drone, and says it is also working on bombers, electronic warfare equipment and specialized software packages.
The company employs only about fifteen people to work on this laser development project, which seems remarkably small for such a technically ambitious weapon system.
For most of the stated destruction areas, including the 5-kilometer anti-aircraft claim, no independent verification or third-party confirmation has ever been published.
The demining function mentioned by the manufacturer appears to be particularly far from proven operability based on available documentation.
A low-cost laser that solves any air threat remains an appealing idea, but without proper verification it remains a theoretical project.
Via Defender Media
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