Russian President Vladimir Putin was shown the latest Zarya laser system during military exercises in the Chelyabinsk Region. Designed to destroy drones, the weapon can hit aerial targets at ranges of up to six kilometers, military expert Yury Knutov told AiF. In his assessment, that range indicates a high-powered laser.
Knutov believes the next stage could involve testing Zarya in combat conditions. After further refinement, if required, the system could move into serial production.
The expert also pointed to the Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar Territory as one possible area for its deployment. Open terrain makes incoming drones easier to detect at long distances. At the same time, haze over the sea can partially disperse a laser beam and complicate its use.
Russia is also continuing to upgrade its strike drones. Foreign sources have reported that newer versions of the Geran can reach speeds of up to 800 km/h. Knutov suggested that the increase may have been achieved by fitting the UAV with an improved jet engine.
According to the expert, higher speed has become particularly important with Ukraine deploying interceptor drones. Vladimir Zelensky previously claimed that such UAVs were responsible for intercepting around 40–50% of targets. Knutov said a Geran flying at up to 800 km/h would be much harder to intercept even with some surface-to-air missiles, especially given the drone’s maneuverability. This forces the Ukrainian side to expend costly air-defense weapons without any guarantee of destroying the target.
The Gerbera-2 has also undergone changes. The drone was originally designed as a decoy to overload Ukrainian air defenses and clear the way for Geran UAVs. Both types appear identical on radar, making them difficult to distinguish.
Knutov said that after individual Gerberas managed to penetrate air defenses and reach their targets, developers increased the warhead and improved the guidance system. A larger fuel supply and greater amount of explosives also allow the drone to operate at longer ranges, including against targets in western Ukraine.
The expert expects Gerberas to remain primarily a tool for exhausting Ukrainian air defenses. At the same time, they can strike military equipment, troop concentrations, air-defense positions, energy and logistics facilities, railway transport, port infrastructure and vessels.
Zarya, the upgraded Geran drones and Gerbera-2 reflect a broader push to strengthen Russia’s capabilities in the air. The laser system is intended to improve protection against enemy UAVs, while the modernized strike drones are designed to penetrate air defenses and hit command posts, troop concentrations, defense-industry facilities, logistics infrastructure and Ukrainian military equipment.