The Tryzub’s emergence underscores a global trend toward directed energy weapons as a response to the proliferation of low-cost aerial threats.
Tryzub is the Ukrainian word for “trident.” The tryzub symbol, dating back to the Kievan Rus more than 1,000 years ago, has become a core part of Ukraine’s national identity, and a symbol of its independence, strength, and unity.
Ukraine has used the name and the symbol for other purposes. In its ongoing war against Russia, it has bestowed the name on a directed-energy weapon (DEW)—representing a serious technological achievement, even amid the country’s dire circumstances. Ukraine’s development, and subsequent use, of the laser positions it as one of the few nations with operational, weaponized laser technology that could potentially reshape its flagging air defense.
Developed by Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces (USF), the Tryzub was first publicly acknowledged by Colonel Vadym Sukharevskyi last December. At that time the Ukrainian colonel revealed that the system can engage aerial targets at altitudes exceeding one mile. Tryzub can attack drones—and potentially even larger aircraft—at that range.
The Tryzub Laser’s Story
Earlier this month, the Ukrainians released more interesting tidbits about the Tryzub laser air defense system. It can destroy attack drones, guided bombs, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles, and even engage helicopters. The laser is a kinetic weapon, and can reportedly shoot down drones and missiles at close ranges. At longer ranges, it can blind sensors on other aerial threats.
Reporting on this new system suggests that the Tryzub was a domestically developed system, although some have asserted that it is a derivative of the DragonFire system developed by the United Kingdom.
The Tryzub comes at a critical juncture in the ongoing Ukraine War, where aerial threats—notably drones—have become the dominant challenge for both sides. In fact, both Ukraine and Russia have spent an inordinate amount of time and resources developing countermeasures against the drone threat.
Russia has increasingly relied on cheap Iranian-built Shahed drones, costing around $35,000 per unit, to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses. Countering these with traditional interceptors, like AMRAAM, which cost millions per missile, is cost-prohibitive for the perennially cash-strapped Ukrainians.
Thus, the Tryzub, with its infinite magazine capability, limited only by its power supply, makes for a tantalizing counter-drone alternative for Kyiv.
Ukraine Joins the Laser-Weapon Club
The laser’s ability to engage a wide variety of targets, from drones to ballistic missiles, enhances Ukraine’s layered air defense, complementing systems like the National Advanced Surface-to-Air System (NASAMS). Its capacity to blind enemy sensors adds a non-lethal option, disrupting reconnaissance without expending further resources on destruction. This is particularly valuable against Russia’s hypersonic missiles, against which there is no real conventional defense.
Ukraine joins an elite group of nations developing similar laser systems for air defense purposes. Among those countries are the United States, Britain, Israel, China, and South Korea. The Tryzub’s emergence underscores a global trend toward directed energy weapons as a response to the proliferation of low-cost aerial threats. Lasers offer a sustainable counter to missiles and drones, shifting the economic calculus of air defense.
Despite the Tryzub system’s promise, though, it faces significant hurdles, both technical and operational. Laser weapons require precise targeting to maintain a focused beam on a moving target. This challenge is further compounded often by atmospheric conditions, like clouds or rain, which can scatter or absorb the beam. A phenomenon known as “thermal blooming,” where the laser heats surrounding air and causes the beam to spread, further reduces the effectiveness over long distances.
Currently, Tryzub relies on manual targeting via joystick, lacking an autonomous tracking capability. While future versions are expected to include greater automation, the system remains in its prototype stage, suggesting it is still experimental. But the fact that Ukraine has developed such an innovative system highlights both the dangers of this war and the importance of innovation to the Ukrainians.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
