(Representative image only.) The UK’s DragonFire laser weapon, which could also be bound for Ukraine by 2027. Photo, UK MoD.
Ukraine has reportedly acquired a laser weapon capable of shooting down low-flying aircraft and drones, making it the latest country to possess such an advanced defense technology.
Colonel Vadym Sukharevskyi, commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces within the Ukrainian military, revealed during a recent conference that the new laser weapon called “Tryzub” can engage targets at altitudes exceeding two kilometers (1.24 miles).
He also stated that the weapon is “real” and “currently operational,” though he did not say where exactly it is deployed.
“We can confirm that Ukraine is, if I’m not mistaken, the fifth country to possess such a laser,” Sukharevskyi remarked.
It remains unclear whether the counter-drone tech was produced by a local firm or acquired from another country. However, the weapon’s name, “Tryzub” — a reference to the trident, a national symbol of Ukraine — suggests that it was likely domestically built.
Sukharevskyi said work is underway to further mature the laser weapon.
Prior to the unveiling of the “Tryzub,” former UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps had floated the idea of supplying Ukraine with the DragonFire laser weapon.
He suggested that the system could have “huge ramifications” for the conflict, particularly as Russia intensifies its use of attack drones.
However, former British Armed Forces Minister Leo Docherty clarified that it is currently impossible to send the DragonFire to Ukraine, as the weapon is not expected to be operational until 2027.
Despite this, he did not rule out the possibility of providing the high-energy laser to Kyiv once it completes its development and testing phase.
The DragonFire system is described as a cost-effective solution, with each 10-second laser burst costing approximately $13.
