“Peresvet” – a complex of Russian laser weapons. Announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin during a message to the Federal Assembly on March 1, 2018.
Most of the information on the complex is classified, but according to expert estimates, it is supposed to perform air defense missile defense tasks.
According to the director of the Center for the analysis of world arms trade, the military expert Igor Korotchenko, the Peresvet laser can be used successfully in the fight against drones. However, its effectiveness depends on the environmental conditions. In good weather, it works perfectly, but fog, rain, snow and other adverse events can interfere with the passage of the laser beam. The expert also added that such installations consume a lot of electricity, so it is unlikely that they will be used as a portable tool. But in the future they will be able to protect many military bases and other objects from the penetration of unmanned drones into their territory.
The equipment of the armed forces of the Russian Federation began in 2017. On 1 December 2018, the Peresvet laser complexes assumed the task of experimental combat.
On December 5, the Russian military department informed about the launch of the Peresvet laser complexes on the experimental combat service. It was also reported that these weapons began to be mastered in 2017. A preparation of the complex calculations was carried out on the basis of the Mozhaisky Space Military Academy and on the company’s sites, which was engaged in the development and production of Peresvet.
Almost nothing is known about the complex itself, its tactical and technical characteristics are strictly classified. From the words of the officials, it can be concluded that Peresvet is currently on at least two wheeled platforms. The designers were forced to take this measure because the laser requires a very powerful power plant and its compact version is not yet available. But work is underway on modernization. And, according to Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov, this complex will become more compact and its technical characteristics will be significantly improved, work should be completed within 2-3 years. Peresvet’s combat missions are interpreted differently from various sources, but in general this involves searching, tracking and capturing air targets for tracking and then destroying them with a laser beam. The complex is able to hit the optics, elements of design and aircraft weapons. The targets for the attack can be airplanes, rockets and even satellites. Note that “Peresvet” works on some new physical principles. According to media reports, the developer of this unique weapon is the Federal nuclear center of Sarov. (http://www.ng.ru/armies/2018-12-05/2_7456_target.html)
