Former Chief of the Russian General Staff asserted that the last four months of testing a ship-based laser weapon system "have exceeded all expectations".
The laser weapon system (LaWS) is tested aboard the USS Ponce amphibious transport dock during an operational demonstration while deployed in the Gulf
Russia is developing laser weapons alongside with the US, army general Yury Baluevsky, former Chief of the Russian General Staff, told RIA Novosti Thursday.
Citing a statement made by Matthew L. Klunder, Chief of US Naval Research, Baluevsky asserted that the last four months of testing a ship-based laser weapon system “have exceeded all expectations.” According to him, the US Navy has developed a new combat laser capable of destroying small vessels and UAVs.
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| © Sputnik/ Sergey Pyatakov |
The Laser Weapon System (LaWS) temporarily installed aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105) in San Diego
Russian weapon expert Igor Korotchenko said the US "gradually develops weapons based on new physical principles," and recent tests have shown that US warships are likely to carry laser weapons.
"Russia has similar developments, but we are also supposed to develop and create an aircraft-based laser weapon. I should say such research needs a large amount of money, but it is needed to be done in order to maintain a technological balance with the US," Korotchenko said.
