Russia is developing an airborne military laser. A laser system based on the IL-76 aircraft is capable of knocking out enemy reconnaissance means in space, in the air and on the water. Elena Zhikhareva, the correspondent of Vesti FM, found out how effective this technology is.
The "flying" laser is capable of paralyzing enemy reconnaissance. The aviation laser complex was developed to affect electronic devices in space, air and on the ground. Research began in the late 1980s. Then the scientists came to the conclusion that if the laser is directed at the enemy's electronic reconnaissance means, they fail. At a height, the laser works several times more efficiently - they decided to place it on an IL-76 aircraft. For the first time, the flying laboratory took off in 1981, and in April 1984 the plane attacked an air target. In the early 90s, the development had to be curtailed - there was no money. Now funding is going according to plan. The editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine Igor Korotchenko sees no point in this. In his opinion, in practice, the laser installation is unlikely to be applied.
“From a practical point of view, the implementation of such a program under the conditions of budgetary constraints on defense would seem absolutely unnecessary and ruinous for the Russian budget. by flight to deliver to US airspace. And there, when ballistic missiles will be launched at us, they will try to destroy them at the launch stage. It is obvious that all our planes will be shot down, explains Korotchenko.
According to the expert, it must be admitted that the money spent on the creation of a laser installation will not be beneficial and will not strengthen the country's defense capability. To carry out such developments, conditions are needed that are not present in Russia now, Igor Korotchenko believes.
"There are two factors of the possibility of developing such systems - the availability of appropriate engineering technological potential and financial resources. Today, only the United States can afford such expensive programs. With regard to the Russian Federation, of course, it is theoretically possible to assume that such a flying laser installation can be built, but if in practical terms of combat use, it will be meaningless, why divert funds from really important and necessary programs? "- Korotchenko notes.
Many experts do not exclude that the development of such an installation is a matter of prestige for the Russian army. The Americans created an airborne laser, which spurred domestic developments. Ruslan Pukhov, director of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, does not believe that the creation of a "flying" installation is a waste of money. According to him, even the Americans recognize the successes of the Russian "lasers"; it would be foolish to refuse further research.
“It is advisable to perform the same function with several types of weapons to make your system more stable. Therefore, in my opinion, it is foolish to give up those types of weapons and those technologies where even your potential adversary estimates you extremely highly, says Pukhov.
If we talk about priorities, it’s better to spend money on improving Russian ballistic missiles, some military experts advise. If the missiles at the stage of launching and entering the flight trajectory are able to withstand the direct impact of laser radiation, this can be considered an achievement of the Russian defense industry.
