Russia unveils its LASER CANNONS that can destroy targets ‘within fractions of a second’ and have now begun being deployed

The ‘Peresvet’ system is already in operation, the Russian Defence Ministry said
Little is known about the laser as its development has been highly secretive
Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said it destroys targets in ‘fractions of a second’
Laser systems are used by other militaries to take down planes and missiles

Russia has unveiled a powerful new laser weapon which it claims can take down targets ‘within fractions of second’.

The space age laser, named the Peresvet after a sixteenth century Russian warrior monk, is already being deployed and used by Russia’s armed forces – according to the country’s government.

Remarkable footage showing the weapons system in action was posted on the Russian defence ministry’s social media account on Wednesday.

It showed the advanced laser system being brought out of a hangar and activated remotely by a soldier.

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The Peresvet laser system was unveiled by the Russian Defense Ministry on Wednesday morning

The Defense Ministry uploaded a video to their Facebook account showing the laser being deployed

Little is known about the potency of Vladimir Putin’s latest piece of kit as the Russian government has revealed nothing about its capabilities.

However, similar weapons systems which have been developed in other countries are used to take down planes and missiles by disabling their electronics from miles away.

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov told his ministry’s newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda on Monday that the machine can ‘take down targets within fractions of a second’.

‘We can talk a lot about laser weapons and movies were made about them a long time ago and fantastic books have been written, and everyone knows about this,’ Borisov said.

‘But the fact that these systems have started entering service is indeed today’s reality.’

The clip also showed the remarkable weapon being operated remotely by a Russian army soldier

Similar weapons systems which have been developed in other countries are used to take down planes and missiles

‘Starting from last year laser systems have been entering service that allow disarming a potential adversary and hitting those facilities, which are the targets,’ he added, saying such a device could take out targets ‘within fractions of a second.’

The Peresvet programme has been shrouded in secrecy, with Vladimir Putin playing his cards close to his chest about the potential of the technology in a speech earlier this year.

During his State of the Nation Address on March 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that ‘significant progress’ was achieved in Russia’s laser weaponry program and ‘there are all reasons to believe that we are one step ahead our rivals in this sphere.’

However, he gave no further details, saying only that the time was not ripe at that moment.

‘I do not want to reveal more details. It is not the time yet. But experts will understand that with such weaponry, Russia’s capacities for defending itself have multiplied.’

The laser takes out the electronics of a projectile from miles away rendering missile and planes useless

The laser system entered use in 2017 according to the Russian Defense Ministry and troops have been training on it for some time

The Russian Defense Ministry’s Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper reported on Wednesday that the laser systems are already in use – and have been for some time.

‘Peresvet laser systems, based on new physical principles, entered combat service in testing regime with the Russian armed forces,’ the paper said. ‘The armed forces started receiving them in 2017 as part of the state procurement program.’

Russian military personnel operating those systems underwent special training at the Mozhaysky Military Space Academy in Russia’s second largest city of St. Petersburg.

‘As combat units trained using this advanced weaponry, they learned and practiced their deployment and preparations for use,’ the paper said.

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Russia unveils its LASER CANNONS that can destroy targets ‘within fractions of a second’ and have now begun being deployed