12mo ago

South Korea to mass produce lasers that can take out drones at $1.50 a hit

www.cnn.com South Korea to mass produce lasers that can take out drones at $1.50 a hit | CNN

South Korea is beginning the mass production of a low-cost laser weapon that has successfully shot down small drones during testing, the country’s key arms agency said Thursday.

South Korea is beginning the mass production of a low-cost laser weapon that has successfully shot down small drones during testing, the country’s key arms agency said Thursday.

The laser weapon, called Block-I, “can precisely strike small unmanned aerial vehicles and multicopters at close range,” a news release from South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said.

The release did not give a cost for the weapon, but said each shot fired would only cost about $1.50.

Imagery supplied by the agency appears to show a weapon around the size of a shipping container with a laser mounted on top and what appears to be a radar or tracking device mounted on one side of the platform.

81 comments

They better send some to Ukraine.
Make Putler happy.
- It'd probably be great testing for them too.

Will they be mounted on sharks?
They seriously need to call the platform sharks.
- Best we can do are mutated sea bass
  
  Are they at least ill-tempered?

There is no doubt that lasers will play a bigger and bigger role in combat systems, especially in a layered air defense networks.
But it's dishonest how these articles only cite the cost of electricity. It would be like citing the cost of a single shell of artillery to imply that is the only expenditure when the system is used.
Just like a Howitzer, the parts on lasers experience wear and tear, but to replace them cost a hell of a lot more than a new barrel.
Yes, in the long-term lasers will be more cost-effective than ground to air missile interceptors*, but any reporting that is clearly trying to make an argument for cost savings, should have the integrity to get figures that factor in battlefield maintenance of those systems.
*When applicable. Lasers will not remove the need for any existing systems, but will provide a cost savings by providing additional options for the air defense system's operators.
- When discussing deterrents against drone swarms the cost per "round" is the correct metric....
  
  The cost per round is a lot more than just power generation when talking about lasers.
  The wear on tear on lasers is a lot different than other systems and when the case is being made for their cost effectiveness they need to be factored in, instead of the highly misleading figures that only prices out electricity.
  
  Even in the very long term, loss of equipment to enemy fire is non-negligible during active combat, so you need to tack on the purchase cost in some manner.
  In the shorter term you have to buy a 30 million dollar laser system, even if you'll eventually make it back.
- Usually they do quote the cost per shell, not including rifle wear, she'll transport, oder wages, etc. Or missile, in case of patriot systems.
- What about the advantages of the logistics of those “rounds”. Seems like a huge savings.

What's the kW or MW class of laser? If it's too low, it could be ineffective against even tinfoil wrapped quad copters.
- Inb4 flying disco balls!
  
  Imagine getting a massive burn because the drone trying to bomb you reflected the laser your colleague used to try to shoot it down.
- Might still be powerful enough to blind the optics, which would effectively cripple them. Without a video feed neither FPV drones nor grenade-dropping ones would have the necessary precision to be effective.
  
  Unless they're gps guided, or they can turn their camera away from the laser source in time.
- A buck fifty a shot at the rate I pay is about 12 ~~Kwh~~ kwH 😉 of power. That laser has got to be way up there in power.
  
  kWh
  (I'm sorry, I have nitpicking issues.)
- Wouldn't that cut it's communication though?
  
  My coworker and I literally tried wrapping an access point in aluminum foil to replicate poor connectivity. It didn't do shit. Even completely lined a cardboard box and put it inside with zero change.
  
  I don't think so? Radios don't care is a laser is shining at them.
- Yeah I'm no light expert but can't they just make shilding and filters for this sort of attack vector?
  
  Depends on the wavelength. Standard mirrors don't always do mirror things at wavelengths far outside the visible spectrum.
  Part of the advantages of UAVs is that you can deploy a lot of them cheaply with stuff you buy on eBay. While eBay does sell some of the more exotic mirrors for CO2 laser cutters (which are far-IR wavelengths), you couldn't buy a lot of them to cover a single drone. It'd cut into the cost advantage, and would also weigh it down a lot.
  
  Even if they can, it will decrease the payload somewhat, and as the lasers get better the shielding will have to get stronger.
  It'll forever be a back and forth thing

Imagery supplied by the agency appears to show a weapon around the size of a shipping container with a laser mounted on top and what appears to be a radar or tracking device mounted on one side of the platform.
So, 30 million for the setup and deployment but 1.50 per drone. Plus it is huge and unweildy.
Gonna need a lot of drones to make that more cost effective than another drone with a stick or net, both of which have been effective in the defense of Ukraine.
- Agreed, this is definitely first gen research.
  
  Probably 2nd or 3rd gen, laser weapons have been in the works for decades.
- Plus it is huge and unweildy.
  The US already has a DEW unit that fits in a UTV (Side by Side) for shooting down smaller drones.
  The US also has a more powerful palletized version that fits in the bed of a pickup truck.
  The South Koreans are just a few years behind is all.
  
  15 seconds later it crashed down
  Why did it take so long?
- Lmao Ukraine is about to become devoid of birds
  Any radar sensitive enough to pick up drones is going to have an insane number of false positives
  
  Modern radars can see way more than just size. You're right that there should still be a human in the loop, though.

Good, now give some to Ukraine.

What are we, paying by the laser now?

So would this potentially reset the battlefield and negate the disruptive changes drones had brought to it? Or does it just mean more drones and stronger drones?
- Probably a cat and mouse game
- I think it will just make drones more expensive as they put in systems to try and counter this tech.

Shotgun, camera, 2 servos and and an esp32 is all you need
- Shotguns have a useful range of about 50 meters while these are short range, is that long enough?
  
  You can fit a choke and longer barrel with higher caliber pellets to improve the range.

Wait...
Are drones powered by kitties?

I hope this works how it sounds. The development of fighter planes, missiles and bombs, and drones has pretty grossly given an edge to invading militaries, able to quickly enter territory and do tremendous amounts of damage, especially to civilian life.
Being a bulky, heavy weapon with a reliance on a lot of electricity should hopefully encourage this for defensive use, and if it can keep all those flying invaders in check this could be a boon against war.
- Being a bulky, heavy weapon with a reliance on a lot of electricity
  The SK version is bulky and heavy because it's their 1st Gen however other countries already have versions that are significantly smaller, lighter, and fully mobile.
  
  Actually what im seeing from other countries are even larger and heavier technologies. I mean all of these can be mobilized as low speed ground vehicles, a far cry from the mobility and invasive potential of aircraft. Its the energy requirement thats the kicker, and the weight of batteries. Which is why we're only seeing this technology being deployed as stationary anti air defense. Its a nice bonus that lasers have to travel in a straight line so we dont have to worry about long range trajectory attacks like with ICBM's.
  The only downside im seeing so far is surprisingly limited range hampering its ability to handle incoming supersonic targets.

This is the best summary I could come up with:
South Korea is beginning the mass production of a low-cost laser weapon that has successfully shot down small drones during testing, the country’s key arms agency said Thursday.
The laser weapon, called Block-I, “can precisely strike small unmanned aerial vehicles and multicopters at close range,” a news release from South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said.
Future versions could be developed to take out much bigger targets, including aircraft and ballistic missiles, which would be a potential “game changer,” according to the release.
DAPA will develop “a laser anti-aircraft weapon (Block-II) system with improved output and range compared to the current one,” the release said.
In Ukraine, the Middle East and elsewhere, small drones - some available off the shelf - have shown the ability to disable or destroy multimillion-dollar pieces of military hardware, including tanks.
Earlier this year, Britain showed off a new laser weapon that its military says could deliver lethal missile or aircraft defense at around $13 a shot.
The original article contains 529 words, the summary contains 163 words. Saved 69%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

How much for a miss?
- Well assuming one with explosives can take out a single person, they get a 10% accuracy (number pulled out of my ass), and a VSL (value of statistical life) of 1.5 million you get 150,000 USD.
  Really throws off the cost function when the false negative penalty is a million times bigger.

I hope it works well

Should have watched this

Fiber laser, ceramic disc laser, CO2 laser?

81 comments