Russia has debuted a mobile anti-drone laser system as part of its expanding directed-energy weapons portfolio.
Developed by Shvabe under state-owned Rostec, the system integrates all components into a single off-road vehicle, including a command-and-control station, electro-optical sensors, and a rechargeable battery power source.
The weapon is designed to target small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), from reconnaissance quadcopters to first-person-view drones that are increasingly common on today’s battlefields.
According to the developer, the laser can disable multiple airborne targets in a short engagement window, depending on altitude and weather conditions.
Air-Cooled, Battery-Driven
Unlike many Western laser systems that rely on liquid cooling and external generators, Shvabe’s design uses an air-cooled laser paired with onboard batteries for quieter operations.
This simplifies maintenance, reduces weight, and enables rapid deployment, with all hardware contained in the truck bed.
The laser disrupts UAVs by damaging critical components such as sensors, wiring, or batteries, causing loss of control and crashes.
Effective range varies from several hundred meters to more than 1 kilometer (0.6 miles), depending on visibility and line of sight.
The low acoustic and thermal signature makes the system suitable for urban security, base protection, and frontline force defense.
Last Line of Defense
The truck-mounted laser can receive targeting data from radar, acoustic arrays, or electronic reconnaissance tools, enabling coordination with broader air-defense networks.
Shvabe positions the system as a final defensive layer to neutralize small drones that evade conventional guns and missiles.
Performance remains weather-dependent, with fog, rain, dust, and heavy smoke limiting its effectiveness and could force crews to switch to traditional weapons when needed.
