In South Korea, for the first time showed how the UAVs are destroyed by laser weapons (photo)
The reporters group showed how the weapons system successfully struck the three drones of DJI Phantom 4 with an invisible ray of directional energy at the Tean County Teaching ground, 108 kilometers northwest of Seoul. A few seconds after silent shots on the UAV flared flames, after which they fell. The laser installation was managed by three people who were inside the steel block.
According to South Korean defense procurement management (DAPA), the system uses a laser beam generated by fiber optics and heats the target surface to a temperature above 700 ° C to fail internal components such as batteries. The exact characteristics of weapons are not revealed. It is only known that its capacity is less than 100 kilowatts and the range is less than 10 kilometers.
The chief researcher of the South Korea defense agency South Korea Ion Sok noted that during the tests, the device reached the initial capacity of 30 kilowers. This is enough to knock down drones, but not rockets or artillery shells. He said that the system covers radar and optical sensors, a laser generator, which combines several rays into one for greater output power, and a laser laser starting unit that shoots with one beam.
The scientist also pointed to some of the disadvantages of weapons, such as addiction to the weather. In addition, the system can still produce only one ray at a time, which makes it unusable for combating the UAV. The publication also noted that since 2019, South Korea has invested 87. 1 billion won ($ 63 million) in laser weapons. By 2026, Seul plans to spend another 127. 7 million Won for mass production of such systems. One laser shot is expected to cost about 2000 Won ($ 1. 45).