“Two steps ahead”: how the Peresvet laser complexes will strengthen the Russian army

The Peresvet complexes took up combat duty. This is reported by the newspaper of the Armed Forces of Russia "Red Star".

“On December 1 of this year, Peresvet laser complexes, based on new physical principles, took up experimental combat duty,” the newspaper notes.

For the first time, Vladimir Putin mentioned this model of armament when addressing the Federal Assembly in March 2018.

The development of the Peresvet laser complex was conducted in a secret mode, so information about it is limited. According to experts, he will be able to solve airborne and missile defense tasks, as well as hit quadcopters, drones and lightly armored vehicles. The operators of the complex were trained to work with Peresvet at the Mozhaisky Military Space Academy.

The use of laser technology increases the accuracy of targeting, and also eliminates the use of expensive missiles to intercept, experts say. One of the properties of laser weapons is the ability to hit enemy optical devices, said military expert, editor of the Arsenal of the Fatherland magazine, Alexey Leonkov, in an interview with RT.

“Everything that is used in aviation, as well as in high-precision attack and reconnaissance complexes,“ Peresvet ”will act against these types of weapons and military equipment as part of anti-aircraft and space defense systems. It will be an integral part of these complexes, and will also reduce the consumption of ammunition in situations when it is necessary to destroy a drone worth $ 200, so as not to shoot at it with a rocket of several thousand dollars, ”explained Leonkov.

• Laser systems "Peresvet" stepped on combat duty

At the same time, Peresvet will be able to withdraw all optical and electronic equipment from the reconnaissance drone, making it useless as an intelligence unit, the expert added.

“It can also be used against munitions that use optoelectronic devices, such as cruise missiles and precision weapons. Optics that stand on airplanes will also be exposed to Peresvet. It will be an important addition to our EW and air defense systems that deal with aerospace defense issues, ”concluded Leonkov.

Laser history

Laser systems convert various types of energy, such as chemical, electrical or thermal, into a narrow beam of polarized radiation.

The development of weapons capable of striking optical devices and equipment of the enemy, were conducted in the USSR. Thus, the Soviet NGO Astrophysics, in conjunction with Uraltransmash, in 1982 created the prototype of the Stilet complex.

The laser machine was placed on a special chassis, developed on the basis of SU-100P self-propelled artillery. In total, two cars were released, which were officially adopted - one of these copies is still in service, but in fact is an exhibition copy.

In 1990, a new self-propelled complex was developed, equipped with a laser machine, called the "Compression". For the chassis, the undercarriage of the howitzer 2S19 was used, which itself was one of the newest weapons for its time.

• Soviet and Russian self-propelled laser complex "Compression"
• © vitalykuzmin.net

The laser machine was equipped with a prism from a special 30 cylinder-shaped artificially grown ruby-shaped cylinder, the ends of which were coated with silver for shielding laser beams. “Compression” simultaneously released 12 laser beams with different wavelengths, which made the protection of optical and electronic devices against it almost impossible.

Due to the high cost, the “Compression” project was minimized. The only prototype laser tank was restored in 2010 and transferred to the State Military Technical Museum.

Game ahead of the curve

The Peresvet complex is a model of new generation weapons, with new characteristics and new capabilities, military historian Yury Knutov said in an interview with RT.

“So far this is an experienced watch, and he is accompanied by developers and industry representatives. They will help the staff understand the principles of Peresvet, will assist in case of malfunctions and make the necessary improvements, ”the expert said.

The decision not to disclose the capabilities of the complex is correct, Knutov said.

“But he took up combat duty immediately after the United States actually gave us an ultimatum and announced its withdrawal from the INF. This suggests that the combat capabilities of the complex allow it to hit medium and short range missiles of a potential enemy. These missiles are also capable of striking our S-300 and S-400 complexes in the last modification, which are being commissioned this year, ”the expert emphasized.

Recall, on November 4, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, after a meeting of NATO defense ministers, said that the US would stop fulfilling its obligations under the Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles (INF), if Moscow does not return to its execution within 60 days.

As the expert noted, in contrast to 1987, when Russia had nothing to shoot down Pershing missiles and cruise missiles in Europe, today there are effective ways to combat these means of attack.

“At the same time, we would not want to unwind the arms race. Therefore, we support the preservation of existing treaties, the search for compromises and peaceful development, ”said Knutov.

According to him, Washington, for its part, shows samples of laser weapons, but they remain single technical samples.

“In the army of the American army there is no such weapon, otherwise it would have been presented with great fanfare. The fact that we are overtaking the West and the United States in this area suggests that we are two steps ahead. So, no serious threats, except for verbal ones, threaten our country, ”concluded Knutov.