In his last message to the Federal Assembly, Russian President Vladimir Putin presented the creation in our country of several breakthrough weapons systems, including a facility that uses a combat laser. It should be noted that the development of this type of weapons was carried out in the Soviet Union.
Laser air defense
As you know, even Archimedes, protecting his native Syracuse from the Romans, burned the enemy's fleet using the prototype of the first combat laser of his own production. The ingenious Greek directed a sunbeam, focused in a concave mirror, at the enemy ships, setting fire to their sails. Since then, for centuries, mankind has not stopped trying to master this type of weapon. In our country, the first such experiments were undertaken in the late 1960s of the last century. Leading Soviet scientists quite logically decided that the most effective and relatively inexpensive way to combat enemy flying targets from aircraft to ballistic missiles would be to use laser systems. True, in the USSR they were called somewhat differently - optical quantum generators. Several eminent scientists wrote a letter to the country's leadership about the possibility of using these devices for the purposes and tasks of air defense: N. G. Basov, E. N. Tsarevsky, Yu. B. Khariton and G. V. Kisunko. The proposal received a positive resolution, followed by the corresponding Resolution of the USSR government in 1966. It was assumed that Soviet scientists would develop a laser facility capable of emitting 1 MJ energy as part of the Terra-3 program. The work was carried out by the leading research and production centers of the country OKB "Vympel" and CDB "Luch". Tests of a combat laser installation for the needs of air defense were planned to be carried out at a training ground located near Lake Balkhash in Kazakhstan. But, due to their complexity, the work was delayed. Only in the fall of 1973, scientists went to field tests. The first experiment was successful. Stationary target,located at a relatively small distance from the installation was hit by a laser beam. It should be noted that already in the 1970s, the USSR laser complex had a perfect guidance system. In 1974, in the presence of the USSR Minister of Defense A. A. Grechko, the laser beam of "Terra-3" hit a five-kopeck coin. Subsequently, a more powerful installation was created, which received the code name 5N76. Unfortunately, its technical characteristics are still a state secret, however, it is known that the installation worked from the late 1970s to the beginning of the new century. A number of sources also claim that the operation of this system in the fall of 1984 caused problems on the American space shuttle Challenger, about which the USSR issued an official note of protest. It should be noted that already in the 1970s, the USSR laser complex had a perfect guidance system. In 1974, in the presence of the Minister of Defense of the USSR A. A. Grechko, the laser beam of "Terra-3" hit a five-kopeck coin. Subsequently, a more powerful installation was created, which received the code name 5N76. Unfortunately, its technical characteristics are still a state secret, however, it is known that the installation worked from the late 1970s to the beginning of the new century. A number of sources also claim that the operation of this system in the fall of 1984 caused a malfunction on the American space shuttle Challenger, about which the USSR issued an official note of protest. It should be noted that already in the 1970s, the USSR laser complex had a perfect guidance system. In 1974, in the presence of the Minister of Defense of the USSR A. A. Grechko, the laser beam of "Terra-3" hit a five-kopeck coin. Subsequently, a more powerful installation was created, which received the code name 5N76. Unfortunately, its technical characteristics are still a state secret, however, it is known that the installation worked from the late 1970s to the beginning of the new century. A number of sources also claim that the operation of this system in the fall of 1984 caused problems on the American space shuttle Challenger, about which the USSR issued an official note of protest.the Terra 3's laser beam hit a five-kopeck piece. Subsequently, a more powerful installation was created, which received the code name 5N76. Unfortunately, its technical characteristics are still a state secret, however, it is known that the installation worked from the late 1970s to the beginning of the new century. A number of sources also claim that the operation of this system in the fall of 1984 caused problems on the American space shuttle Challenger, about which the USSR issued an official note of protest.the Terra 3's laser beam hit a five-kopeck piece. Subsequently, a more powerful installation was created, which received the code name 5N76. Unfortunately, its technical characteristics are still a state secret, however, it is known that the installation worked from the late 1970s to the beginning of the new century. A number of sources also claim that the operation of this system in the fall of 1984 caused problems on the American space shuttle Challenger, about which the USSR issued an official note of protest.that the operation of this system in the fall of 1984 caused a malfunction on the American space shuttle Challenger, about which the USSR issued an official note of protest.that the operation of this system in the fall of 1984 caused a malfunction on the American space shuttle Challenger, about which the USSR issued an official note of protest.
Russian "stiletto" for NATO tanks
Taking into account the successful testing of combat laser systems for the needs of air defense, the scientists of the Central Design Bureau "Luch" in 1978 turned into NPO "Astrophysics" made an attempt to create a combat laser installation for its use against ground targets. Of course, no one was going to incinerate enemy tanks and infantry with a laser beam. For this, the laser at that time simply would not have enough power. It was assumed that within the framework of the Stiletto project, a laser installation, located on a self-propelled platform, would identify enemy equipment on the battlefield, calculate its optical devices and electronic components, hitting them with an accurate laser shot. It is important to note that this installation was able to hit targets located at a distance of up to 7 kilometers, which exceeded the range of a tank shot, and also gave the Soviet military a certain advantage. In fact, the Stiletto system could blind enemy tankers, disable the tank's electronics, making it a useless heap of metal in modern combat conditions. Two experimental installations of this system were created in 1982, but unfortunately they never went into production. Subsequently, the development and testing of various installations using combat lasers similar to the first Stiletto and Terra-3 complexes continued until 1991, but then were discontinued due to the collapse of the Soviet Union. The resumption of work in this direction, as well as the successful delivery of mobile installations to the troops using combat lasers, took place in Russia with the onset of the new century. Two experimental installations of this system were created in 1982, but unfortunately they never went into production. Subsequently, the development and testing of various installations using combat lasers similar to the first Stiletto and Terra-3 complexes continued until 1991, but then were discontinued due to the collapse of the Soviet Union. The resumption of work in this area, as well as the successful delivery of mobile installations to the troops using combat lasers, took place already in Russia with the onset of the new century. Two experimental installations of this system were created in 1982, but unfortunately they never went into production. Subsequently, the development and testing of various installations using combat lasers similar to the first Stiletto and Terra-3 complexes continued until 1991, but then were discontinued due to the collapse of the Soviet Union. The resumption of work in this direction, as well as the successful delivery of mobile installations to the troops using combat lasers, took place in Russia with the onset of the new century.and also the successful delivery of mobile installations to the troops using combat lasers took place in Russia with the onset of the new century.and also the successful delivery of mobile installations to the troops using combat lasers took place already in Russia with the onset of the new century.
Promotional video:
Dmitry Sokolov