The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation has taken delivery of several prototypes of its first combat laser weapons developed since the 1970s.

Russian Deputy Minister of Defense Yuri Borisov explained these laser weapons are combat lasers and not experimental weapons such as those previously tested by the Russian Ground Forces. He said the laser weapon prototypes are based on new physical principles.

Like Us on Facebook

"The technology itself existed before, but now is the time when it is used in practice," said Borisov.

Speaking at a meeting dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Russian Federal Nuclear Center in the city of Sarov, Borisov said the laser systems were developed in the USSR.

Defense ministry sources said these weapons will largely determine the future capabilities of the Russian Ground Forces under new state arms program extending until 2025.

In the mid-1950s the Soviet Union conducted extensive research to develop and test high-power laser weapons for strategic space and missile defense.

During the 1980s, the Soviet Union revealed two operational prototypes of a laser tank designated the 1K17 Szhatie ("Compression"). Mounted on its turret was a battery of laser projectors that could disable the optical-electronic equipment of enemy missiles, ground and aerial vehicles.

The laser tank, the design of which began in the 1970s, fired an intense laser beam created by focusing light through 30 kg of artificial rubies. This component, however, made the system very expensive to produce.

Development of the Szhatie was abandoned with the collapse of the Soviet Union since the development and production of the laser system became too expensive and unnecessary.

One of these laser tanks was scrapped while the other is on display at the Army Technology Museum near Moscow.

Russia is playing catch-up to the United States, whose different armed forces branches will deploy operational combat laser weapons beginning 2017. Combat lasers of the U.S. Air Force are the most advanced in development. 

TagsArmed Forces of the Russian Federation, Russian Deputy Minister of Defense Yuri Borisov, Laser Weapons, 1K17 Szhatie