Ukraine testing laser weapons against drones: “Tryzub” can shoot down Shahed

Ukraine is wrapping up testing of the new “Tryzub” laser system, designed to combat russian drones. The system is already capable of destroying reconnaissance drones and could serve as a means of countering Shahed drones.

According to the Militarnyi portal, the system was developed by the Ukrainian company Celebra Tech. The system operates on a mobile trailer platform, allowing it to be quickly moved between positions.

Currently, “Tryzub” effectively engages reconnaissance UAVs at distances of up to 1.5 km, and FPV drones at distances of about 800–900 meters. The developers claim that the system has the potential to engage targets at distances of up to 5 km, including Shahed-136-type drones.

An AI-powered automatic guidance system has been integrated into the complex. It allows the system to autonomously track a target after lock-on. Additionally, “Tryzub” has been synchronized with radars for faster response to aerial threats.

In addition to countering drones, the system is planned to be used for remote demining and the protection of strategic facilities.

The project was first publicly announced in late 2024. In 2025, the system was already demonstrated during tests, where it successfully struck ground targets and blinded the cameras of FPV drones.

As a reminder, russian occupiers are increasingly using decoys in air attacks to overload air defense systems and exhaust air defenders.