Ukraine has created its own laser system, "Tryzub" (Trident), which is capable of destroying enemy drones in a matter of seconds. The new technology is already being actively discussed following statements from the Ministry of Defense. Military expert Oleksandr Kovalenko, in a comment to UNN, explained exactly how the system works, why it doesn't "burn" the drone in a literal sense, and whether it is realistic to scale such a weapon across the entire territory of Ukraine.
How the "Tryzub" laser system works
After information about the Ukrainian laser system appeared, many questions arose in society – from its operating principle to its real effectiveness against "Shaheds." According to the expert, the very concept of such a weapon is not entirely new, as various countries have long been working on means of engaging drones using laser or microwave influence.
Kovalenko explained that this is not about the classic "burning through" of a target, as is often shown in movies.
In fact, this story is no longer new. There have long been attempts to create such a tool for destroying UAVs. Initially, even an option for engaging the Shahed-136 was considered. The principle of operation lies not so much in physically burning through the hull, as people imagine, but in affecting the drone's microchips and electronics. A microwave effect occurs on all the drone's control and communication systems. To explain it very simply – the electronics burn out,
Why the drone does not explode after being hit
According to Kovalenko, after being affected by the laser system, the drone does not detonate in the air, but actually fails due to internal damage to the electronics. The expert compared this process to the operation of a microwave oven.
It's not about an explosion. A local internal fire is created specifically in those systems that are most sensitive to such radiation. This can be compared to a microwave oven. If you put a mobile phone in there and turn it on, it's clear what will happen to the electronics. A drone reacts on approximately the same principle under the influence of a laser beam. This is a primitive explanation, but it conveys the process itself as accurately as possible,
Can the system be scaled across all of Ukraine
One of the main questions is whether Ukraine is capable of creating a sufficient number of such systems for large-scale protection against Russian attacks. According to the expert, the main problem now is the high cost of the technology; however, in the long term, it could become significantly cheaper than using traditional air defense systems.
Any new technology is expensive at first. Until the system goes into mass production, it will cost a lot. But if its effectiveness is confirmed, if it is truly capable of performing such tasks, then with the right investments, state orders, and possibly international support, the cost can be significantly reduced,
Laser is cheaper than air defense missiles
According to the expert, the main advantage of laser weapons is their multi-use capability and the significantly lower cost per interception compared to anti-aircraft missiles or even interceptor drones.
The main effect of laser weapons is that they are not single-use, like a surface-to-air guided missile or even an interceptor drone. A laser is reusable. If we talk about the costs of electricity and maintaining the installation's operation, it is still cheaper than using air defense missiles. Even compared to interceptor drones, it can be significantly more economical,
Will "Tryzub" become a new element of Ukrainian air defense
Kovalenko believes that if the stated characteristics are confirmed, the system could become an important element of Ukrainian air defense, especially against the backdrop of the constant increase in the number of Russian drone attacks.
If the characteristics are confirmed and the system shows effectiveness in real conditions, then its scaling should become a matter of state level. This is no longer just an experimental development, but a potentially new direction in Ukraine's air defense system,