Ukraine has developed a prototype laser air defence system designed to counter Russian drones at significantly lower cost than comparable Western systems, according to a report in Ukraine’s Pravda news outlet, quoting a story in The Atlantic published on Tuesday, February 10.
“The system, known as Sunray, was demonstrated to The Atlantic during a field test in Ukraine,” said the Ukrainian news source. “The portable laser weapon reportedly fits into the trunk of a car and can be mounted on a pickup truck. During a test described in the report, the laser burned through a small drone midair within seconds, causing it to fall.
“The developers said the system had been created over roughly two years at a cost of several million dollars. The expected price of a single unit is estimated at a few hundred thousand dollars. By comparison, the Helios laser system developed by Lockheed Martin for the US Navy was produced under a US$150 million contract.”
No technical details of the system, or the company behind it, have been reported.
For more information
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/02/11/8020416/
https://www.theatlantic.com/national-security/2026/02/ukraine-drones-lasers-iron-dome/685944/
(Image: Shutterstock)
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