Belarusian engineers have unveiled a laser weapon designed to disable drones by burning out their cameras from up to 500 meters away. The portable system, called Tsiklop Mark 2, can destroy camera sensors and damage optical lenses, leaving unmanned aircraft unable to target their objectives. Developed by the LEMT Scientific and Technical Center, part of the BelOMO holding company, the weapon was displayed at the OrelExpo 2026 exhibition in Moscow, NEWS.ru reported.
According to a company representative, the laser does not need to remain focused on a camera for long to destroy it. Even a brief sweep of the beam is enough to disable the optics and immediately deprive the drone of its targeting capability. At distances of 250 meters or less, the weapon can also burn through the aircraft itself.
The rifle weighs between 4 and 4.5 kilograms, but its power supply adds considerably to the load. With the batteries included, the entire system weighs up to 25 kilograms. These are carried in a backpack, meaning the operator must transport the complete assembly while using the weapon.
The company also introduced a considerably more powerful anti-drone laser system called Shafran, marketed internationally as Feniks. Unlike the handheld Tsiklop, this weapon is housed in a container-style module mounted on a MAZ- or KamAZ-type truck chassis. It combines radar, an optical detection system and a combat laser to locate and destroy aerial targets.
Shafran currently delivers up to 10 kilowatts of laser power and can strike drones at distances of up to 1.5 kilometers. LEMT engineers are also developing higher-powered versions, with plans to increase the system’s output to 30 and 50 kilowatts.