Image source: topwar.ru
The American company Northrop Grumman demonstrated its new development, commissioned by the US government, a powerful small-sized laser installation, designated Phantom.
As indicated on the corporation's website, the laser power is 10 kW. The generating unit is placed in a housing with a capacity of about 339 liters, and its dimensions are close to a small refrigerator. The whole system weighs less than 90 kg, which allows two soldiers to carry it.
The developer explained that the new product, characterized by compactness, lightness and efficiency, was created in the interests of the military customer:
Image source: topwar.ru
It is not explained in which combat environment the Phantom will be used and against which targets. It is quite possible that the American defense industry is trying to develop effective ways to combat drones, whose role on the battlefield has increased significantly during the Ukrainian conflict.
Previously, reports were published about the destruction of UAVs by laser weapons. So, in 2019, Turkey announced the defeat in Libya in combat conditions of a large-sized (weight 4.2 tons) Wing Loong II strike and reconnaissance drone of Chinese production from a laser installation with a gun power of 50 kW mounted on the chassis of an armored car.
