UK laser weapon test shoots down the hype on tank-killing drones

Drones have been touted as the death of tanks in the Russo-Ukrainian War, but advancements in laser weapon technology showcased by a recent UK laser weapon test can keep tanks on the frontlines in future battlefields.

This month, Defense News reports that British Army troops conducted a groundbreaking test of a high-energy laser weapon mounted on a Wolfhound armored personnel carrier. The weapon successfully destroyed dozens of drones at Radnor Range in Wales.

Defense News says the test, part of the UK Ministry of Defense’s Land Laser Directed Energy Weapon Demonstrator program, involved the 16th Regiment Royal Artillery, specializing in air defense, which executed the trials that demonstrated the laser’s capability to neutralize drones at various distances and speeds.

The report mentions that this initiative addresses the increasing threat of unmanned aerial systems, particularly in the Russo-Ukrainian War, where drones are extensively used.

The report quotes Stephen Waller, directed-energy weapons team leader in the ministry’s Defense Equipment & Support organization, emphasizing the need for cost-effective solutions to protect troops. It notes that the laser weapon, developed in collaboration with Raytheon UK under a GBP16.8 million (US$21 million) contract, offers a virtually limitless ammunition supply, making it a potentially more economical option than traditional countermeasures.

Defense News notes that the successful trials mark a significant step towards operational deployment, with the ministry now assessing further development requirements. The report says that similar efforts by the US and France highlight a global trend towards advanced laser-based defense systems to counter the evolving drone threat.

The Russo-Ukrainian War has established small, expendable drones as an effective mainstream anti-armor weapon. The conflict has prompted the development of improvised countermeasures while reigniting debates about the relevance of the tank in modern warfare.

“Cope cages” are one such defense hastily improvised during the early days of the war. In an April 2024 Finabel report, Julien Potin mentions that cope cages, improvised metal grilles mounted atop tank turrets, have become a prominent yet controversial form of add-on armor in modern warfare.

Potin notes that they originate from the need to counter top-attack threats, aiming to pre-detonate warheads from anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM), rocket-propelled grenades (RPG) and drone-dropped explosives – but their effectiveness is hotly debated.

He says proponents argue that cope cages offer low-cost, easily installed protection, especially against drone-dropped improvised explosive devices (IEDs), noting that their ongoing use by Russian, Ukrainian and Israeli forces, alongside production-line versions displayed at military expos, are indications of growing institutional acceptance.

However, he points out that critics say cope cages are ineffective against advanced ATGMs such as the Javelin. He adds that their added height increases tank visibility, making them more conspicuous to enemy forces. They also impede crew movement and escape, while restricting access to top-mounted weapons.  

So-called “turtle tanks” push the cope cage concept further. Such a tank is equipped with an improvised superstructure that covers the top, sides, and rear.

In a May 2024 article for the War Zone, Oliver Parken mentions that while the turtle tank’s additional armor is designed to protect against drone attacksand it does offer enhanced defense, the additional armor significantly obstructs the crew’s vision and the main gun’s traverse.

Parken notes that the turtle tank’s armor effectively counters rocket-propelled grenades and light anti-armor weapons yet leaves gaps vulnerable to precision-guided munitions. While the turtle tank’s heavy armor provides substantial protection, its slow speed makes it a priority target for drones, while its reduced maneuverability and situational awareness pose significant operational challenges.

As skilled operators can precisely maneuver drones into the gaps of cope cages and turtle tank improvised armor, both sides have started to equip their tanks with vehicle-mounted jammers.

However, in an April 2024 Business Insider article, Tom Porter mentions that while Russian jamming capabilities are superior to those of Ukraine, those capabilities are not deployed evenly across the front line. Porter says unprotected vehicles can be a weak link.

Among other solutions on offer, fiber-optic drones are immune to jamming and radiolocation, with their control signals sent via a cable akin to wire-guided ATGMs. However, the length of their fiber-optic control cables restricts their range, which may pose a risk to their operators. The control cables can also get entangled or broken.

As for the renewed debates surrounding the relevance of the tank in modern warfare, Curtis Buzzard and other writers mention in a 2023 article for Military Review that supporters of the tank argue the vehicles provide essential firepower, mobility, and survivability in combined arms teams, enabling breakthrough operations and projecting national power, as seen in the 2003 Invasion of Iraq and the 1967 Six-Day War.

However, Buzzard and others point out that critics highlight tanks’ vulnerabilities to ATGMs, drones and loitering munitions, as demonstrated by heavy Russian tank losses in Ukraine. They also criticize tanks for their logistical demands and for large electromagnetic signatures that make them detectable.

While critics may call the tank obsolete, Buzzard and others argue that tanks remain crucial but must evolve through integration, concealment, and enhanced mobility to meet future threats.

While improvised solutions such as cope cages, turtle tanks, and vehicle-mounted jammers have varying degrees of effectiveness against rapidly evolving drone warfare capabilities, advancements in laser weapon technology may soon make them a viable drone defense for armored fighting vehicles.

In an October 2024 article for the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Alistair MacDonald cautions that, despite their promise, laser weapons face significant limitations, including high energy requirements, limited range and susceptibility to adverse weather conditions.

MacDonald points out that these constraints hinder their effectiveness in dynamic combat scenarios, as lasers struggle to maintain focus and power over long distances and through atmospheric disturbances.

Additionally, he says the bulkiness of the necessary power supplies and cooling systems further complicates their deployment on mobile platforms.

However, MacDonald says technological advancements have made vehicle-mounted counter-drone lasers more feasible. He mentions that fiber lasers amplify light from multiple strands into a single, powerful beam, improving efficiency and compactness.

In addition, he says the development of smaller, more robust power generators and cooling systems has also enabled the integration of high-energy lasers onto vehicles like the US Army’s Stryker armored fighting vehicle.

MacDonald says these advancements allow for rapid, precise targeting of drones, providing a cost-effective and virtually limitless ammunition supply. He mentions that the successful trials of these systems underscore their potential to enhance battlefield capabilities, marking a significant step forward in counter-drone technology.