Shotguns lose efficiency over distances even faster.

Knowing Russia's army they will probably end up blinding themselves with it while drones destroy their targets as planned.

It's not about power efficiency. Lasers require focussing a lot of light at one certain point. But the further the distance the more the light spreads. That's just physics. Communicating with lasers isn't the same as burning stuff with them.

Lasers are also utterly doomed when the sky isn't clear because mist and clouds can fracture the concentrated light

As for intercepting missiles: If you've seen the speed at which hypersonic missiles come down you'll find a laser doesn't have much time to burn it.

Israel has been bragging about their epic laser tech for multiple years now yet they're still firing interceptors. A laser might be able to defend one single static target in a 1km range from drones but not a whole border. And swarm tactics can still overwhelm the laser and just destroy it

Yes, and that's literally where power comes in. The more powerful the laser, the further it stays coherent. Again, these are literally being used in combat right now. And they're not intercepting missiles, they're intercepting slow flying drones. What I was saying is that it's much cheaper to power a laser than to make an interceptor.

Americans also can't figure out how to make hypersonics, but Russia, China, Iran, and DPRK can. Just because the reich can't do something, doesn't mean it's not possible.

Yes, and that’s literally where power comes in. The more powerful the laser, the further it stays coherent

Yes that's true but the power requirement (not to mention cooling) exponentially increases the further the object is because of the light spreading. The amount of burst power and light density needed for a long-range laser is bonkers and making it go further will requires exponential bonkers.

This is why they frequently fire them using pulses but even then getting them to destroy objects at a very long distance gets harder and harder the further the object is. If the drone flies near a laser then it works wonders. If the drone flies around the area laser then it's not much more effective than simple airshot munition.

I checked the article but didn't see a video in it so I'm not sure what the laser managed to do here.

Just because the reich can’t do something, doesn’t mean it’s not possible.

Maybe it is, but unless this interception was very long range they haven't found the magical bullet yet and it isn't much of an improvement over simple buckshot type munition or interception drones.

Because even with all the stupid amount of. Obey we spend on r and d we have few few operational and tested platforms... If a drone hit one it goes boom just like anything else. If we can't field 30of the things in our wildest imagination I can't imagine they can achieve. Ore than 2 or 3 operational units and they will get whacked eventually

uh yes them untermensch am I right

No, they have an extremely corrupt and poorly supplied army because it's an oligarchical dictatorship.

Oh you're just projecting.

Yes, and that's literally where power comes in. The more powerful the laser, the further it stays coherent. Again, these are literally being used in combat right now. And they're not intercepting missiles, they're intercepting slow flying drones. What I was saying is that it's much cheaper to power a laser than to make an interceptor.

Americans also can't figure out how to make hypersonics, but Russia, China, Iran, and DPRK can. Just because the reich can't do something, doesn't mean it's not possible.

Explain how.

So you spend $10k+ (totally just a WAG) in energy costs to take down a $200 drone, I suppose it works but I don't think Russia can keep it powered long enough to be effective against swarms of drones.

This is literally what's happening with the US war in Iran right now, meanwhile Russian military industrial complex is state owned and it's outproducing all of NATO as openly admitted by mainstream western media.

It's hilarious how tankies always assume everyone is from the US. Now that's projection.

It's hilarious how tankies always assume everyone is from the US. Now that's projection.

It's hilarious how tankies always assume everyone is from the US. Now that's projection.

The Russian economy is far more industrialized, while the US is far more financialized. Spending goes farther in Russia than it does in the US. I don't think it's far-fetched to think Russia could implement some degree of laser-based drone defenses.

I'll give you that. One thing though. On a rainy or foggy night those defenses are worthless. Range goes in the crapper.

I don't think the article above indicates that this is the only tool Russia has.