On May 7, the defense company Celebra Tech announced that Ukraine's Trizub laser weapon — also referred to as Tridens — has entered its final testing phase and is increasingly effective at neutralizing drones, particularly FPV and reconnaissance types, according to Army Recognition.
Technical characteristics and ranges
The latest version of Trizub is trailer-mounted and developed specifically as an air-defense asset. In its current configuration:
- it can destroy FPV drones at ranges of 800–900 meters;
- it can engage reconnaissance drones from as far as 1,500 meters.
The next development goal is to defeat Sahed-type kamikaze drones from roughly 5 kilometers.
Fire control and automation
The weapon is equipped with an AI-assisted fire-control radar and automatic target tracking. These features enable rapid detection and tracking of targets and align with global trends in directed-energy weapon development.
Development timeline and strategic benefits
After approximately 17 months of development and testing, Trizub reached the final testing stage in the first half of 2026. A key advantage of the system is its lower operating cost compared with traditional air-defense missiles. This could reduce Ukraine’s dependence on expensive missile-based systems and provide more affordable protection for critical infrastructure and rear-area targets against large-scale Russian drone attacks.
Why it matters
The push toward directed-energy defenses is driven largely by the need for cost-effective responses to mass drone attacks. The entry of Trizub into final testing marks an important step toward giving Ukraine more autonomous and economical options for countering drone threats, while achieving the planned 5 km capability against kamikaze drones will be crucial for further improving effectiveness.
Status and next steps
The May 7 announcement came from Celebra Tech; the reported performance figures are based on company statements and Army Recognition coverage. Further deployment timelines will depend on the outcomes of the final tests.
