Hanwha Aero, World's First Operational Deployment of Laser Weapon

Hanwha Aerospace Developed Laser Anti-Aircraft Weapon Block-I

The era of utilizing lasers as weapons is opening. While there are many cases abroad developing laser weapon technology, Korea is the first to officially deploy it in the military for actual combat.

According to the military on the 11th, mass production of the Laser Anti-Aircraft Weapon Block-I will begin. This weapon neutralizes targets by shining a laser generated from optical fibers onto them, capable of precision strikes on small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from North Korea. It tracks the UAV's trajectory detected by radar and irradiates the laser for about 10 to 20 seconds, applying thermal energy exceeding 700 degrees Celsius to burn the engine or electronic equipment inside the target UAV.

It can be operated as long as electricity is supplied, and the cost per shot is only about 2,000 won. It is invisible and produces no noise. Unlike conventional anti-aircraft guns that use ammunition, there is no risk of damage from falling shells, making it easier to use even in urban areas.

The Block-I has a range of about 2 to 3 km, which is not very long, but since the altitude at which North Korean UAVs operate is also around this level, it is evaluated to be capable of responding effectively.

In a test evaluation last April, the laser was fired 30 times at 30 UAVs located 3 km away, hitting all targets with a 100% hit rate. Currently, due to low output, it targets small UAVs, but in the future, increasing the output will enable it to counter aircraft and ballistic missiles as well. The Laser Anti-Aircraft Weapon Block-I is the first project of the 'Korean-style Star Wars Project' applying lasers to weapons. Since August 2019, a budget of 87.1 billion won has been invested. It received combat suitability certification last April, and last month, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and Hanwha Aerospace signed a mass production contract. It is scheduled to be delivered to the military and operated within this year.