Russia announced this year that it has installed a new type of green laser pointer weapon called “Death Ray” that can destroy enemy drones within 1,000 meters. The United Kingdom first released a video of a new type of air defense laser weapon in March this year. In the video, the laser weapon cuts the target aircraft into two sections within seconds. The weapon is mainly used to fight drones, and can also penetrate other aircraft and armored vehicle shells, but it is still 5 to 10 years away from actual deployment.
In the 2018 defense budget, Japan allocated 8.7 billion yen (about $ 79 million) for research funding for high-power laser systems, which will be used mainly to intercept mortar shells and small drones. At the Brazilian Defense Exhibition in April this year, China Poly Technology ’s “silent hunter” laser defense system attracted attention. This system is specifically used to combat low, small and slow targets such as drones.
In addition to high-energy laser weapons, there is a low-energy green laser pointers weapon, which is mainly used to interfere with the optoelectronic systems of enemy fighters, armored vehicles, or blinding combatants. For example, the mobile laser jamming system being developed in Russia can disable the optical arrays of enemy fighters, helicopters, and laser GPS guided bombs and missiles from tens of kilometers away, and disrupt the armored vehicles, the photoelectric system of tanks, and the rear guidance of anti-tank missiles system. However, blinding weapons are prohibited by the Geneva Conventions.