- BIST10011,722-2.89%
- USD49.45+0.05%
- EUR55.62+0.37%
- GOLD4,181.10+0.26%
- INTEREST37.00%-1.00
- BITCOIN81,392-0.13%
- October 17, 202613°
- BIST10011,722-2.89%
- USD49.45+0.05%
- EUR55.62+0.37%
- GOLD4,181.10+0.26%
- INTEREST37.00%-1.00
- BITCOIN81,392-0.13%
- October 17, 202613°
Russian military academics: Combat lasers fail to go mainstream due to weather, energy issues
An article in a Russian Defense Ministry military journal states that laser weapons are not suitable for mass deployment due to atmospheric factors such as fog, rain and dust, and high energy demands. Currently, these weapons are only effective against small drones in a limited area.
An article in the Military Academic Journal published by the Prince Alexander Nevsky Military University of the Russian Defense Ministry has revealed the technical limitations of combat lasers. According to the article, these weapons have failed to become widespread military equipment due to high energy consumption and the negative impact of atmospheric conditions.
The article's authors, D. P. Artamonov and K. S. Petryakov, noted that laser beams are severely weakened by weather events such as fog, rain and dust.
Atmospheric conditions limit effectiveness
The authors noted that combat lasers, touted as a revolutionary weapon since the 1980s, are not a universal solution, although they are now used as air defense systems capable of shooting down unmanned aerial vehicles. The article includes the following statements:
"Even many predictions made a decade ago turned out to be wrong. Combat lasers have been promised as a revolutionary weapon since the 1980s. Indeed, operational laser air defense systems capable of shooting down drones have been developed today. However, their effectiveness is severely limited by atmospheric conditions: fog, rain, dust significantly weaken the beam."
The instructors emphasized that powerful lasers consume enormous amounts of energy and require complex cooling systems. Therefore, they stated that laser weapons can currently only be used against small drones in a narrow area and have not become widely adopted.
US electromagnetic railgun program also fails
The article gave the example of how similar technical challenges also affected the US electromagnetic railgun program. It said that significant funding was allocated and tests conducted for the system, which was planned to be deployed on warships in the mid-2010s. The program, expected to become the navy's standard weapon by the 2020s, was effectively terminated as of 2025 due to unresolved technical issues, it added.
"The development program for these systems in the US received significant funding, tests were carried out. By the 2020s, railguns were expected to become the standard weapon on navy ships. However, as of 2025, the program has been almost completely halted due to unresolved technical reasons such as rapid wear of guide rails, enormous energy consumption, and difficulties in projectile guidance," it was said.
The Prince Alexander Nevsky Military University is one of the leading multidisciplinary military education and science centers of the Russian Armed Forces, training officers in military humanities, law, philology, orchestral conducting, and finance.
Stay Updated with RuskiGazeta
Subscribe to be informed about special news, developments and announcements. We will keep you informed.
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy
