[Yang Nak-gyu's Defense Club] Laser Anti-Air Weapon Coming Soon

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] It is reported that the Defense Science Research Institute (ADD) is in the final stages of developing a laser anti-aircraft weapon that can neutralize drones.

The Defense Science Research Institute (ADD), regarded as the cradle of new weapon development for the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, publicly revealed key research and development projects including this one for the first time at the 50th anniversary joint demonstration and exhibition event held on the 3rd at Anheung Test Site in Taean, Chungnam.

Previously, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced the commencement of the laser anti-aircraft weapon system development project, aiming to operationalize it by 2023. The laser anti-aircraft weapon is a new concept weapon system that directly fires a laser beam generated from optical fiber at a target to neutralize it. It can precisely strike small unmanned aerial vehicles and multicopters at close range. It is invisible, noiseless, and can operate with only electricity supplied without separate ammunition. The cost per shot is approximately 2,000 won.

Based on this technology, the laser anti-aircraft weapon system development project will invest about 88 billion won starting this year, complete development by 2023, and push for operational deployment. Hanwha Co., Ltd. is participating as the prototype developer and plans to develop a laser weapon system capable of shooting down drones flying several kilometers away.

Anti-drone technology that neutralizes drones is divided into 'hard kill,' which physically destroys drones, and 'soft kill,' which stops drone flight using radio waves and other means. The laser anti-aircraft weapon, a hard kill type anti-drone technology, has the advantage of intercepting small drones at low cost. It focuses the laser beam on the vulnerable parts of the target, heats it, and then ignites the target.

ADD has secured the core technology for beam irradiation and has completed research to a level that is practically applicable. ADD, which possesses system design capabilities, is reported to be focusing on system refinement and miniaturization while progressing with weapon system development. This hard kill method requires direct beam irradiation on the drone, so interception is difficult if the drone is not visible or weather conditions such as rain are unfavorable.

Advanced countries are also actively developing laser weapons. The U.S. uses 10 kW for ADAM, 30 kW for ATHENA; Israel’s Iron Beam uses 20 kW; and Germany’s 'HEL Effector' uses 20?30 kW output fiber lasers. These laser weapons are all designed to intercept low-altitude drones penetrating within 1?2 km.

A military official said, "The laser anti-aircraft weapon project is a challenging research and development effort adopting an evolutionary development strategy for a laser weapon system that no country in the world has yet operationalized. Once development is complete, it will not only enhance our capability to counter enemy small drones and multicopters but also serve as an opportunity for South Korea’s defense science and technology to take a leap forward."