On January 12, Iran started an air defence exercise as part of its more extensive military exercise, ‘Eqtedar’, meaning the ‘Might’. The military drills began last week amid the looming threat of potential Israeli air strikes on its nuclear facilities. During the exercise, Iran exhibited several air defence systems. The world has seen its drone and missile technologies from time to time, but this time, there is a new laser-powered air defence system called ‘Seraj’, which stole the limelight.
According to the Iranian Mehr News Agency, the air defence drill revealed a state-of-the-art laser-powered air defence system with capabilities in the country’s western and northern areas. The reports say observers called it “daunting.”
The unique air defence system was shown at the Fordow uranium enrichment facility, where the drills occurred. The same report stated that the air defence system know as ‘Seraj’ is only one of several layers of air defence that Iran possesses.
This system is installed at a uranium enrichment facility and designed to dissuade Israel and the United States from attacking Iran and its nuclear program. More specifications and features of ‘Seraj’ have been put in secret. Its operational range and used technologies are not known yet, but the system has become popular in the defence domain for its cost-effectiveness. Previously, Iran successfully admitted cost-effective drones in its aerial fleet.
These defence systems use a concentrated beam of highly energetic photons to intercept and destroy incoming enemy drones and missiles. It is not famous for mobile use but rather for fixed-site defence.
Additionally, these high-energy laser air defence systems can discreetly incinerate adversarial targets without inflicting collateral damage, thereby reducing casualties caused by the debris of interceptors falling on the ground after impact.
Laser-based air defence systems are particularly effective against unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The concentrated laser beams can rapidly heat the UAV’s body, resulting in structural failure.
Also read: Pakistan helping Iran to go ‘nuclear’?
Iran has been facing stringent unilateral sanctions for the last five decades, which have hampered its military modernization for a long time. However, understanding the necessity of modernization, Iran began building its own technologies, and the world has seen significant Iranian success in defence capabilities, especially in missiles and drones.
This recent advanced laser air defence system is crucial for Iran. Iran has joined a unique list of countries like the US, the UK, Israel, South Korea, and China, among others, which have reportedly developed and tested their laser air defence.
