Russian officials have disclosed for the first time that combat laser systems are being used against drones launched by Ukrainian forces, military analyst Alexey Vasilyev said while commenting on remarks by Russian Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov.

Vasilyev argued that Russia is not relying on a single experimental prototype. According to his assessment, several versions of Russian laser systems are already in service, and some of their characteristics exceed those of comparable Israeli and British developments.

The analyst said the brief official statements reflected the work of established scientific schools and research teams that had spent a decade developing the technology.

At the same time, he pointed to the limitations of laser weapons. Their effectiveness depends heavily on weather conditions, which can significantly reduce the engagement range. The systems themselves also remain expensive, although the cost of each individual shot is extremely low.

Vasilyev said the ratio between the value of destroyed targets and the price of the equipment allows such systems to recover their cost quickly. He highlighted their ability to counter mass drone attacks involving large numbers of relatively inexpensive unmanned aircraft.

The expert acknowledged that laser weapons cannot serve as a universal answer to every aerial threat. However, he said they could become an important element of layered air defense, particularly against low-altitude targets operating in what is often described as the «small sky».

Earlier, Alikhanov said Russia was already using a full range of laser systems designed to destroy enemy drones.