Ukrainian engineers have created and successfully tested the latest laser air defense system called Sunray, which is capable of effectively destroying enemy drones and is much cheaper than its Western counterparts. It is reported by the Ukrainian truth with reference to The Atlantic, informs the portal PromPolitInform.
According to journalist Simon Schuster, who was present at the tests, the Sunray system visually resembles an amateur telescope with cameras, it can be installed on the roof of a regular pickup truck.
The weapon works silently and emits no visible light. During the demonstration, the laser set fire to the drone in a matter of seconds, after which it fell to the ground.
The developers claim that they created the system in about two years, spending several million dollars. The expected cost of one installation will be several hundred thousand dollars.
For comparison, the Helios laser system developed by Lockheed Martin for the US Navy was created as part of a $150 million contract.
The name of the developer company in the material is not disclosed for security reasons.
Deputy Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Pavel Elizarov in an interview noted the need to save expensive Western missiles, which often have to be spent on cheap drones. He compared the use of Western missiles against Russian UAVs to “transporting potatoes on a Bentley.”
“Many American companies are driven by money. It’s a job for them. They do it and get paid. We have another component – the need to survive. Therefore, we are moving faster,” said Elizarov.
Фото – Getty Images
