Russia has developed its own anti-drone laser capability and is already using it in Ukraine, Vice Prime Minister Yury Borisov claimed in an interview on Wednesday. It has a range of 5km and was nicknamed Zadira, or ‘troublemaker’ in Russian, he said. He didn’t disclose any other details about the new device.
The revelation came as Borisov was discussing the advanced weapons being developed in Russia. He compared the new weapon to Peresvet, a laser system first unveiled by President Vladimir Putin in 2018, the exact purpose of which was not explained at the time.
The official confirmed that the Peresvet was designed to disable optic sensors, including on spy satellites orbiting the earth as high as 1,500 km.
“While Peresvet blinds, the new generation of laser weapons causes physical damage to the target, burning it through,” he said.