Ukraine reveals it has developed a new laser weapon with big potential

It's been 1,000 days and counting since Russia launched its full scale invasion on Ukraine.

To keep up with Putin's military arms, Kyiv has unveiled its latest weapon.

Ukraine's military claims to have a laser, called "Tryzub", which it says is capable of shooting down targets from more than a mile away.

So, how much do we know about this new weapon, and how could it be an advantage to the Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia?

Meet Ukraine's latest addition to its weapons cabinet

Speaking about the laser at a defence summit in Kyiv, Vadym Sukharevskyi, Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems, spoke confidently as he announced the new weapon.

"We can already shoot down aircraft with this laser at an altitude of over two kilometres.”

That equates to around 1.2 miles.

Media outlets in Ukraine are reporting that efforts are being made to strengthen the weapons capabilities and scale.

Why is it called Tryzub?

The English translation of Tryzub is "trident" – a nod to Ukraine's national symbol, which represents independence, unity and strength.

Unsurprisingly, Sukharevskyi was reserved when it came to revealing much else about the laser, but experts have told ITV News' partner CNN, that Tryzub's existence is "feasible".

Patrick Senft from the Armament Research Services, a technical intelligence consultancy specialising in arms in munitions research said: "It is entirely feasible for Ukraine to develop a functional directed-energy weapon (DEW) capable of destroying some aerial targets.”

Senft says that laser directed-energy weapons are particularly effective against slow, low-flying drones. These are deployed by Russia and consist of fragile components that are vulnerable to heat.

What are the weapon's limitations?

Weapons like Tryzub have two key limitations, according to Senft, related to how fast their target is travelling and how the lasers lose energy the further they travel.

This, he says, means faster-moving or heat-resistant targets, such as artillery shells or ballistic missiles, are harder to take down without a more advanced system.

Fabien Hoffmann of the Oslo Nuclear Project adds that the strength of the laser beam and the cooling of its system could present challenges when attempting to shoot down drones or missiles.

Other issues could include atmospheric absorption, clouds or rain reflecting the laser beam, and a phenomenon known as "thermal blooming", which occurs when the laser heats the surrounding air and causes its beam to spread out – potentially reducing its effectiveness.

What other countries have access to laser weapons?

Only a few countries possess this form of weaponry including China, the US and Israel.

Many have speculated that the Tryzub's design is modelled on a UK prototype of a new British military laser - the DragonFire weapon.

In April, former Defence Secretary Grant Shapps suggested that DragonFire could be rushed on to the front line in Ukraine to help take down Russian drones.

It's expected that these drones would be ready for deployment by 2027 at the latest.

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