For years, the world’s militaries have sought a simple and cheap way to defend against drones. These small unmanned aircraft, often cheap and easy to manufacture, have become one of the most influential weapons in modern conflicts. In front of them, traditional systems (missiles or artillery) are expensive or impractical. Now, a new technology is trying to solve that problem with something straight out of science fiction: a rifle that shoots light.
The American company NUBURU has presented a portable laser weapon designed to neutralize drones, a system that can be mounted directly on a rifle and used as if it were an advanced sight. Instead of firing projectiles, The device emits a beam of energy that interferes with sensors and optical systems of the drones, “blinding” them and leaving them unable to orient themselves or identify targets.
The system has been developed by the technological subsidiary Lyocon and is part of a new generation of directed energy weapons, a category that uses laser beams or microwaves to disable targets without the need for explosives. Unlike large laser cannons that are typically mounted on vehicles or ships, This system has been designed to be lightweight and portable, so that a soldier can carry and aim it as if it were a conventional rifle.
The device uses several types of lasers simultaneously – green, blue and infrared – to interfere with different sensors and cameras used by modern drones. His Optical power can be adjusted approximately between 1 and 10 wattswhile the beam control system allows the energy to be concentrated precisely on a specific point on the drone. This is achieved through collimation and dynamic beam control technologies, which keep the light focused even when the target moves.
The result is not necessarily a spectacular explosion. In many cases the laser simply disorients the drone’s sensors or overloads its optical systemsomething comparable to temporarily dazzling a camera with an extremely powerful flashlight. The appearance of this type of weapons demonstrates a profound change in modern warfare. On the one hand it is the obvious and factual testimony of the use of small and economical drones and on the other the need to find an equally cheap tool to confront them.
An interceptor missile can cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, while many commercial drones adapted for military use cost just a few hundred. This has created what experts call an “economic asymmetry”: destroying a drone can cost much more than manufacturing it. Laser weapons offer a possible solution because Each shot costs only the electrical energy needed to generate the beam, greatly reducing the cost per interception. In this case, the laser must remain focused for several seconds on the same point on the target, concentrating enough energy to damage its structure or sensors.
Although the laser rifle is still in early testing phases (its weight, battery, how it is charged and how long it can shoot is unknown), its concept points to a future in which defense against drones could be much more portable. Rather Depending on large air defense systems, soldiers could rely on individual devices capable of neutralizing small, nearby threats.