[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Laser Weapon to Counter Missiles Coming Soon

County Begins Development of High-Power Laser Interception Technology
Capable of Intercepting Large Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Rocket Artillery, and Missiles

The military is starting the development of high-power laser interception technology capable of shooting down large unmanned aerial vehicles or cruise missiles. Unlike projectile-based air defense weapons, laser interception weapons can accurately intercept multiple targets consecutively at the speed of light as long as there is sufficient power supply, making them a weapon system that can change the future battlefield landscape.

The high-power laser to be developed this time aims for an output exceeding 300 kW (kilowatts), far superior to existing laser air defense weapons, to have interception capabilities against large unmanned aerial vehicles, rocket artillery shells, and subsonic (slightly below the speed of sound) guided missiles. A 300 kW-class laser weapon system has the output to counter subsonic cruise guided missiles, and it is known that advanced countries such as the United States have only recently begun research and development.

Currently, the laser air defense weapon developed by our military is limited to 20 kW-class, capable of shooting down small drones. The Agency for Defense Development (ADD) completed the development of a 20 kW-class laser air defense weapon in April and received a ‘combat suitability certification’ from the Ministry of National Defense.

Hanwha has been awarded the ‘Laser Oscillator Prototype Production’ project by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and plans to develop it within four years. The development goal is by 2025. The laser oscillator is equipment that generates the laser beam, enabling the laser to strike the target. It is a core technology that determines the performance of laser weapons. The laser oscillator being developed this time will apply advanced light source technology. It operates by combining multiple laser beams to increase the laser output.

Countries around the world are also sparing no investment in laser weapon development. Russia has publicly announced its laser weapon development plans. At that time, Deputy Prime Minister Borisov stated regarding the laser weapon development status, "We have deployed some models not for experimental use but for actual combat," and added, "A completely new type of weapon will play a major role in the military power to be built under Russia’s defense reform program by 2025."

Germany has also started to step up efforts ahead of laser weapon development. Germany’s leading defense company Rheinmetall announced it will operate a ‘High Energy Laser System (HELS).’ Rheinmetall has unveiled a 50 kW-class HELS and recently improved its accuracy and durability to strike a target with a diameter of 20 mm at a distance of 1000 m.

The United Kingdom has raised a fund of 800 million pounds (approximately 1.15 trillion won) for laser weapon development. This fund, called ‘Iris,’ finances the development of next-generation innovative weapons that are difficult to receive sufficient support from the private sector. The establishment of the Iris fund was intended to keep pace with the United States’ ‘third offset strategy,’ which aims to maintain dominance in strategic and tactical weapons through the development of cutting-edge weapons such as robots.