In early March, Russian President Vladimir Putin, as part of his annual message to the Federal Assembly, first spoke about several promising weapons and military equipment, including the latest laser complex. Initially, very little was known about this system, which later received the name "Peresvet". However, over time, the situation began to improve. Officials began to mention certain technical features of the complex, as well as clarify plans for the near future.
Unfortunately, only the most general phrases were voiced in the President's Address. V. Putin said that significant results were obtained in the field of laser weapons. At the same time, we are not talking about trials or the start of production - combat systems of a new type entered the troops last year. The President noted that it is not necessary to go into details yet, but pointed out the potential of a fundamentally new weapon. The story about the new laser complex was accompanied by a demonstration video from the Ministry of Defense.
Several samples of weapons, presented in early March, did not have a name at that time. In this regard, the Ministry of Defense launched a competition to choose names for him. On the evening of March 22, these events ended, and according to their results, the laser complex was given a new name "Peresvet". The voting results were announced live on the Russia 1 TV channel in the 60 minutes program. Among the guests of the telecast was Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov, who is in charge of advanced developments. Among other things, he spoke about some of the so far unknown features of the laser complex.
Yu. Borisov recalled foreign developments in the field of laser weapons. Many countries are working in this area. In particular, in the United States, experienced complexes of this class have already been created, capable of fighting manpower or light armored vehicles. However, as the Deputy Defense Minister noted, Russian specialists have certain advantages over their American counterparts. What they are, he, however, did not specify.
New information about the Peresvet complex, its features and development paths was published by the Zvezda TV channel on May 5, and again came from the Deputy Defense Minister. In an interview for the domestic TV channel, Yuri Borisov spoke about current work, as well as about promising weapons and equipment. Among other topics, the fate of the Peresvet system was touched upon.
During an interview, journalist Yuri Podkopaev recalled the weapons systems presented by the president in March, and asked if there are plans to show the laser combat system during the parade on Red Square.
Yuri Borisov replied that it is possible. The first show of "Peresvet" at the parade may take place within the next two or three years. Such an assessment of the possible timing is due to the fact that the project has already entered the modernization stage. Completion of certain works on the complex will allow organizing its passage in a mechanized column at the parade.
The deputy minister noted that at present and in the existing configuration, the laser complex is distinguished by its large size and complexity. It includes a large number of support vehicles required to operate in a combat position. As a result of the modernization, the size of the complex will be reduced. When "Peresvet" becomes compact enough, it may be presented to the public. Where the "premiere" of the newest system will take place - at the Victory Day parade or at one of the military-technical exhibitions - has not yet been specified.
There are no newer messages about the Peresvet complex yet. However, even the few published information well complement the far from complete picture left after the first announcement. At the same time, a significant part of the data, including those of greatest interest, remains a secret. So, the officials have not yet talked about the purpose of the laser complex, nor have they specified its technical characteristics and combat capabilities. In these matters, we still have to rely on various assessments, far from all of which may correspond to reality.
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It should be recalled what exactly was shown at the beginning of March. The official video from the Ministry of Defense, just 21 seconds long, showed some of the components of the Peresvet system, but did not reveal any details. However, what he saw made it possible to make estimates and predictions.
The video began with shots showing the complex on the march. Two KamAZ truck tractors with special semi-trailers, the appearance of which did not in any way indicate the internal equipment, were moving along the highway. Further, they demonstrated the process of deploying the complex to a position in which at least five vehicles and trailers with various equipment, including communication and control facilities, were involved. The spectators were also shown the workstations of the calculation, equipped with liquid crystal monitors and control panels.
Finally, the video showed the actual laser installation of a new type. It is located at the aft end of one of the vans, which has hydraulic jacks for leveling, and is protected by a retractable roof. A U-shaped support is installed on the platform inside the van, on which a swinging block is placed. On one of the ends of a rather large casing there is a large emitter device with a movable protective cover, as well as a pair of optical devices of a characteristic tubular shape. Guidance in two planes is carried out by rotating the swinging block on the support and changing the position of the emitter, which was shown in the video.
At the same time, neither the video nor the accompanying speech of the president contained any specific data on the purpose, technical characteristics or features of the operation of the complex. However, this fact only contributed to the emergence of a number of versions and assumptions that could hardly have appeared with the timely publication of official information.
According to one of the most widespread opinions, the Peresvet laser combat complex is intended for use as part of air defense. The available equipment, obviously, allows him to find and take on the tracking of air targets, and then attack them with a laser beam. A high-power luminous flux is capable, at least, of disrupting the operation of the enemy's optoelectronic systems or even disabling them altogether.
In addition, in the presence of a high-power emitter, the combat complex is capable of damaging not only optics, but also structural elements of aircraft or their weapons. In the latter case, the beam must literally burn through the body of the target, and then damage its internal equipment or provoke the detonation of warheads.
Such capabilities can be used to combat attack aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles or aircraft weapons - in general, with any targets equipped with optics or having melting structural elements. The newest complex "Peresvet", most likely, turns out to be the first domestic real result of work in this area - and the first air defense laser that entered the troops.
A few days ago, the Deputy Defense Minister pointed out that the Peresvet system includes several vehicles, and this may interfere with its display at the parade. Such features of the complex have become known since the day of the first announcement. So, a demo video showed that there is another vehicle in the firing position next to the combat laser carrier semitrailer, and both components of the complex are connected to each other by numerous cables. Most likely, the second car of "Peresvet" carries autonomous means of power supply.
To obtain high technical and combat characteristics, a combat laser needs appropriate power supply. Therefore, the generator of the required power may simply not fit in one semitrailer with a laser installation. It should be noted that in the recent past a version was expressed about the use of a promising nuclear power plant as part of the "Peresvet" complex. For all its strangeness and ambiguity, such an assumption fully justifies the presence of a separate carrier of energy supply means.
In a recent interview, Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov indicated that the defense industry is currently modernizing the Peresvet system, and the result of this work may be an increase in operational characteristics by reducing the number of service vehicles. Such tasks, among other things, can be solved by creating "combined" machines and semitrailers carrying several systems at once, while located on different carriers. In particular, an operator's cabin and a laser installation can be located on a common chassis.
According to official data, a number of Peresvet complexes have already been delivered to the troops and are in operation. In parallel, modernization is underway aimed at improving the main characteristics and ease of use. The army has already received a fundamentally new weapon, which will become even better in the foreseeable future. And besides, after the upcoming update, which will take the next few years, the laser combat complex will be able to get into a mechanized convoy and pass through Red Square. It is hoped that new interesting information about the Peresvet project will appear before the updated complexes can take part in the parade.
