The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) are on the home stretch in the development and deployment of laser air defense systems. According to the command, the army will receive means capable of effectively neutralizing Russian 'Shahed' kamikaze drones within the coming months.
This information was confirmed by Lieutenant General Andriy Lebedenko, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the AFU, during a recent briefing. He stated that work on the so-called 'weapon of the future' is in full swing, combining the efforts of military units and the private sector.
Synergy between the military and business
Lebedenko emphasized that the creation of laser complexes is not a theoretical task, but a real production process. According to him, both internal AFU structures and independent Ukrainian companies are working on the projects.
"It already exists today. There are manufacturers and teams within the AFU, and from the outside — private enterprises producing laser weapons," the general noted.
From FPV to cruise missiles
Existing developments have already demonstrated their effectiveness in combat. At present, Ukrainian lasers are successfully used to destroy small FPV drones. However, the scale of the tasks is significantly expanding.
The next stage will be the mass deployment of these systems against larger and more dangerous targets — 'Shahed'-type drones. Lebedenko gave a clear forecast for the timing: such means will appear in the necessary volumes within the next 2–3 months.
The general compared the effectiveness of the future weapon with traditional methods, stating that lasers will allow striking air attack means "even better than machine guns".
Confirmation from the former minister
Information about progress in this area is not new. Back in early July, former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov reported that laser air defense systems were already undergoing active testing.
According to Fedorov, the developments have already yielded the first results, however, specific technical details and characteristics of the systems remain secret to this day. Now, however, the AFU command is ready to announce specific deadlines for the implementation of the technology in the combat order.
