Russia launches deadly anti-drone laser defences amid war escalation

Russia has revealed it has tested a powerful new laser-based system aimed at neutralising drones, in what it calls a major advancement in national defence.

The Russian Ministry of Defence announced the breakthrough on Friday, June 13, 2025,  stating the weapon had been evaluated under varied weather conditions and against multiple types of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

According to a government statement, the new laser systems are designed to become a vital component of a “universal air defence system.

” President Vladimir Putin has insisted that Russia must rapidly build a multi-layered air shield to protect its skies from modern threats.

The announcement follows several embarrassing Ukrainian drone strikes deep inside Russian territory.

The Defence Ministry called the laser technology “promising” and said test results will guide further design improvements.

“The test results will be used to refine existing models and create systems capable of providing reliable protection against modern air attack weapons,” the statement said.

A video clip accompanying the release showed wreckage from a destroyed drone, blackened and torn apart—allegedly by the laser’s heat beam.

The footage appeared aimed at underscoring Russia’s readiness to mass-produce these systems and scale their deployment.

Both Russia and Ukraine have relied heavily on drones in the ongoing war. The conflict has seen UAVs deployed not just for reconnaissance and battlefield targeting, but for long-range strikes far beyond the front lines.

Ukraine has launched repeated drone attacks on strategic Russian sites including oil refineries, airfields, and military logistics centres.

Earlier this month, a dramatic operation saw Ukrainian drones concealed inside trucks bypass Russian radar systems and inflict significant damage on Russia’s long-range bomber fleet.

The strike deep within Russian territory has spurred Moscow to fast-track new defence initiatives.

Experts say the development of directed energy weapons like lasers could shift the balance in drone warfare.

Lasers promise lower operational costs and instantaneous targeting, eliminating the need for expensive interceptor missiles.

While Russia has long spoken about developing laser-based weapons, independent verification of their effectiveness remains limited.

Western military analysts have urged caution, noting that actual battlefield performance may differ from tightly controlled tests.

Still, the Kremlin appears determined to capitalise on the technology’s potential.

“Conducting tests allows us to move on to serial production and upscaling,” the Defence Ministry said, suggesting rapid integration into national defences is underway.

Moscow’s urgency reflects mounting pressure from repeated UAV penetrations, some targeting sites over 1,000 kilometres from Ukraine.

These incidents have laid bare weaknesses in Russia’s layered air defences and prompted calls for more innovative countermeasures.

As the war enters its third year, both nations continue to escalate their reliance on drones and electronic warfare.

Russia’s announcement signals it intends to meet this challenge not just with missiles and guns, but with beams of concentrated light that burn through the sky.

With lasers now entering the battlefield equation, a new arms race in drone defence technology may have just begun.

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