Laser Gun Lets Ukraine Fight Drone Swarms Without Big Money

Ukraine is now using a tiny laser weapon that can shoot down drones from the sky. The device, called Sunray, looks like a small telescope with cameras on its sides to spot and follow targets. Soldiers can put it in the back of a pickup truck, making it easy to move around front‑line towns and military bases. During a test, the gun fired at a drone that was only a few hundred yards away. The aircraft caught fire and fell in a bright arc, even though the laser was invisible to the eye. Developing Sunray took about two years and a few million dollars, far less than the cost of similar weapons built in the West. For example, Britain spent £316 million on its DragonFire laser and the United States paid $150 million for a Lockheed Martin model. Ukrainian air‑defence chief Pavlo Yelizarov says the price difference matters because the country needs to survive quickly and cannot afford expensive systems. “We must build fast, cheap, and with little resources, ” he told reporters.

The war has shown that drones are now the main way both sides attack each other, accounting for about 70 % of casualties. Russia sends thousands of cheap quadcopters every week, and each one costs Ukraine millions in traditional missile systems. Sunray offers a new way to stop those drones without needing expensive missiles or ammunition. The laser can destroy many aircraft in a single shot, which could change how Ukraine defends its cities and critical infrastructure. The weapon is part of a larger strategy that includes short‑range rockets, 3D‑printed interceptor drones, and an adapted version of Israel’s Iron Dome system. All these tools aim to keep the frontline safe while the war continues. While it is still early to know how effective Sunray will be in real battles, Ukrainian officials are eager for any advantage that can protect civilians and soldiers alike. The focus remains on immediate results rather than long‑term plans, as stated by the defence minister who said that today’s anti‑drone effort is about survival.

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