The ultimate military-industrial complex nightmare? Ukraine preps drone-killing laser which can destroy targets 3 miles away and costs a tiny fraction of what Western defense firms charge

Date:
Thu, 14 May 2026 00:10:00 +0000

Description:
Ukrainian company Celebra Tech claims its Trident laser weapon destroys drones, helicopters, and surveillance systems across significant battlefield distances.

FULL STORY
Ukrainian company Celebra Tech is putting the final
touches on a Trident laser weapon which it claims can destroy drones, helicopters, and even missiles at significant distances.

The Trident burns through enemy optics and structural components from up to three miles away. Western defense giants have spent enormous sums on similar technology, such as the 120 million DragonFire laser unveiled by Britain, yet Ukrainian developers claim their Trident system will cost a tiny fraction of that amount.

What the Trident Can Actually Do

Celebra Tech says its laser system can shoot down reconnaissance drones from up to 1.5 kilometers away.

FPV drones , which have become a major threat on the battlefield with an effective range of 800 to 900 meters, were destroyed by the system, which
also damages optics, electronics, and wing bodies of larger aircraft.

Developers say the Trident can strike helicopters and airplanes at a distance of 5 kilometers.

At 10 kilometers away, the laser still retains enough power to blind enemy surveillance equipment.

The system has recently received new targeting features, including radar integration and automatic target tracking, and a re-guidance system now
allows operators to correct the beam during active engagement. Tested for combat The company revealed that a prototype called the Trident-120 underwent combat testing in 2021 and 2022, when it resembled a light rifle in its physical form and handling.

The earlier prototype successfully struck the optoelectronic equipment of Ka-52 attack helicopters, and also damaged Orlan reconnaissance drones and Murom ground observation stations during those field tests.

"Today, we can shoot down planes at an altitude of over 2 km with this
laser," said Vadym Sukharevskiy, former commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces.

The company adds the Trident laser system is also suitable for demining contaminated areas, although this secondary function has not been
demonstrated publicly or verified by external observers.

Celebra Tech has developed other products, including the Laurus-13F fiber-optic FPV drone, and says it is also working on bombers, electronic warfare equipment, and specialized software packages.

The company employs only about fifteen people to work on this laser development project, which seems remarkably small for such a technically ambitious weapon system.

For most of the stated destroy ranges, including the 5-kilometer
anti-aircraft claim, no independent verification or third-party confirmation has ever been published.

The demining function mentioned by the manufacturer appears particularly far from proven operational capability based on available evidence.

A low-cost laser that solves every aerial threat remains an appealing idea, but without proper verification, it remains a theoretical project.

Via Defender Media

Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/the-ultimate-military-industrial-complex-nightma re-ukraine-preps-drone-killing-laser-that-can-destroy-targets-3-miles-away-and -costs-a-tiny-fraction-of-what-western-defence-firms-charge

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* Origin: Capitol City Hub (1:2320/105)