The shattered Russian logistic convoys in February-March 2022, the strikes on costly Russian air defence systems in Kharkiv Oblast and in Crimea and all the attacks on Russian vessels and military equipment during the fighting for Zmiinyi (Snake) Island – all these form part of the work of the now-legendary Bayraktar TB2 systems and high-precision munitions with laser guidance.
At the early stage of the full-scale invasion, Russian frontline air defences proved unprepared to counter Bayraktar drones carrying miniature bombs, which, when guided by laser targeting, struck straight into the heart of Russian landing vessels, anti-aircraft missile systems or communications equipment.
More than three years on, the situation has changed dramatically and today the Turkish-made UAVs operate far less, performing fire correction and reconnaissance from much greater distances behind the line of contact.
However, high-precision munitions with laser guidance have not disappeared. During the Cold War they were almost the main means for making high-precision strikes before the advent of GPS and other guidance systems for shells and bombs. Today, NATO countries possess thousands of such weapons, which could strengthen the Ukrainian defence forces.
Crucially, these munitions are resistant to enemy electronic warfare. All that is needed is to point a laser beam at the chosen target, and the munition will launch itself at it.
Historically this required installing laser-guidance equipment directly on aircraft, which would track the target until the munition struck. Portable ground-based designators were also used, positioned near the target by special operations forces.
Both approaches have their drawbacks. If an aircraft making the laser-designating run executes sudden evasive manoeuvres to avoid air defences, the munition can lose the target. Moreover, sending special operations force crews deep into enemy rear areas to designate targets from the ground always increases the risk of losing highly trained personnel.
With this in mind, dozens of teams have emerged in Ukraine working on various methods of laser-guided munitions deployed from the air – specifically from drones. The UAVs that until recently were used to bomb Russian positions during night raids or to conduct reconnaissance up to 200 kilometres deep into Russian territory are now being fitted with systems for laser illumination or "painting" and target designation.
Oboronka, an Ukrainska Pravda miltech-related project, explains how laser-guidance technology is returning to the battlefield and which systems Ukrainian developers have already created.
How does laser guidance work?
A laser designator, which creates and directs a laser beam onto a point chosen by an operator, is required for laser munitions to function on the battlefield. This is a fairly complex and expensive piece of equipment.
The designator produces a bright, high-contrast spot on the target that is detected from long range by sensors in the seeker head of a missile or bomb. Once the seeker detects that spot, the munition locks on and guides itself to the designated aim point.
High-precision laser-guided bombs and artillery shells became a staple in the world's advanced militaries as early as the 1980s. As technology progressed, armies shifted from carpet bombing with unguided free-fall bombs to destroying targets with a single – or just a few – precision munitions.
Some of the most notable early uses of laser guidance were during Operation Desert Storm against Iraq in 1991 and Operation Allied Force in Yugoslavia in 1999. Precision munitions proved indispensable for destroying enemy fortifications, command posts, ammunition storage points and equipment. It is now almost unimaginable to consider counter-terrorism operations in the Middle East without this technology.
Perhaps the most famous example of a laser-guided munition is the American Paveway system, a suite of devices mounted both on the bomb and on the carrier aircraft.
The system consists of a target acquisition and tracking system located on the aircraft, alongside the bomb's own seeker head and aerodynamic control surfaces – stabilisers and fins that adjust its flight path and extend its range.
Today, there are around two dozen variations of the Paveway system for free-fall bombs and specialised aerial munitions, most commonly integrated into American Mk 82, Mk 83 and Mk 84 bombs, some of which are also in service with the Ukrainian forces.
Laser guidance has solved several critical challenges for armed forces, both in large-scale campaigns and limited operations.
Firstly, laser designation allows for real-time, highly accurate targeting and has the ability to track moving targets, enabling the destruction of the intended objective with a single munition even under hostile electronic countermeasures.
Secondly, a single precision-guided shell or bomb can replace dozens of conventional unguided munitions, saving vast amounts of money and time in transporting tens of thousands of bombs or artillery rounds across the globe.
Thirdly, high-precision weapons significantly reduce the number of aircraft sorties. Instead of dozens of take-offs and landings with conventional free-fall bombs, risking aircraft losses to enemy air defences, a few sorties with precision munitions suffice.
In artillery, the benefits are equally clear: fewer shots are required, preserving barrel life.
Fourth, precision reduces collateral damage. High accuracy helps avoid unwanted destruction and civilian casualties near the target.
Laser-guided munitions in Ukrainian service
Laser-guided munitions first appeared in Ukraine alongside the purchase of Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones in November 2018.
Turkish laser-guided munitions were also acquired at the same time, including the MAM-L mini-bomb with a 10 kg warhead and the smaller MAM-C with a 2.5 kg warhead. Targeting is conducted directly from the drone.
Following the full-scale Russian invasion, the Ukrainian forces received numerous precision-guided munitions from partners, including aerial bombs, artillery shells, and guided rockets.
Well-known examples include the American JDAM-ER and GBU-39 bombs and French AASM Hammer bombs. While these bombs are GPS-guided, each has a variant with a laser guidance module. These modifications combine GPS and inertial systems to guide the munition to the target area, with the laser engaged in the final seconds for precise targeting.
Although Ukrainian forces currently rely primarily on GPS-guided bombs, the development of Russian electronic warfare makes laser designation a key guarantee of hitting targets without being thwarted by jamming.
British Brimstone missiles, actively used by Ukrainian special operations forces, also have laser-guided variants. As reported by Militarnyi, a Ukrainian military-themed media outlet, the missiles were delivered with an active seeker head that autonomously searches for targets. Whether the Ukrainian military has received these missiles in a laser-guided configuration is not yet known. However, work is under way to integrate precisely such missiles into the defence forces' platforms.
Ukrainian forces are employing the APKWS system as a high-precision weapon to strike frontline positions and equipment. The system uses modernised 70mm Hydra 70 rockets, guided to their targets with laser designators.
The rockets are also capable of engaging aerial assets. Thanks to the ground-based targeting system in the Vampire system, the APKWS has become an effective weapon against Shahed-type loitering munitions used in Russia's daily attacks on Ukraine.
Since 2024, Ukrainian artillery units have been employing the US-made 155mm M712 Copperhead guided munition.
Fired from howitzers at a range of 3 to 16 km, the M712 can be set to two modes of operation: ballistic and glide. In ballistic mode, the round detects the laser designation point while descending along a high arc and steers onto the target. In glide mode, it transitions to a low, sustained glide, following a flight profile similar to a guided cruise missile.
Laser guidance via drone
Concentrated air defences across the engagement zone mean strike aircraft cannot remain in range to maintain the continuous laser designation that laser-guided bombs need.
However, if a smaller drone operating from the rear designates the enemy target with a laser, this solves the problem.
This method also applies to ground-based munitions, which can be guided to targets by UAVs instead of ground systems that are limited by terrain and mounting height. Additionally, manual guidance puts soldiers at risk.
Given the broad range of high-precision laser-guided munitions, the supply of which to Ukraine could increase significantly, domestic developers have started integrating laser designation systems into their own uncrewed aerial platforms.
One manufacturer of fixed-wing reconnaissance drones who spoke with Ukrainska Pravda on condition of anonymity has integrated a laser guidance system into its UAV. It is being used on the front line alongside Ukrainian Armed Forces artillery units. The company's R&D team spent around two years developing the integration of laser guidance for UAVs.
FRDM, a Ukrainian defence company, had its UAV-based laser guidance solution officially approved by the Defence Ministry in July. Its engineers fitted a 6.5 kg laser targeting module onto an R-34 quadcopter drone.
Ukrainian forces will use the R-34-T drone to assist in guided-bomb airstrikes and precision artillery strikes, the Ministry of Defence said.
"The laser guidance technologies developed in Europe so far are costly," FRDM CEO Vadym Yunyk told Ukrainska Pravda. "Our goal is to make these technologies more affordable. Ukraine currently needs a large number of such systems."
The R-34-T was fitted with a foreign-made laser illumination system. It consists of a designator that emits the laser beam, an optical set for visually observing the target and software for tracking it.
The laser emits a 70-millijoule beam and can engage targets up to 5 km away, as closer distances increase the risk to the drone. However, its range is affected by weather conditions and dust, which affect its effectiveness.
"These systems serve both air force and infantry units, which are supported by aircraft," FRDM representative Anton told Ukrainska Pravda. "An infantry unit launches a drone carrying the equipment, designates the target, coordinates with aircraft and then a strike is carried out. We concentrate not only on helicopters but also on JDAMs and, naturally, drone-launched munitions. The ammunition must meet NATO standards. There are plenty of such munitions globally."
The R-34-T is expected to be operated by a crew of three: two pilots and a laser designator operator. Using these drones requires specialised training, as speed is crucial alongside handling sensitive and costly equipment. A typical mission – from takeoff to reaching the target, designating it and returning – takes 35-40 minutes.
In the future, bomber drones with laser guidance systems will carry mini-bombs similar to the Turkish MAM-C. Several comparable projects are currently being tested in Ukraine. These weapons are expected to be effective when deployed from around 800 m altitude.
Laser-guided first-person view drones
Laser guidance is being explored to enhance the effectiveness of first-person view (FPV) drones in critical missions. DWARF Engineering, a Ukrainian defence firm, is upgrading its FPV guidance module to engage laser-designated targets. Developers say this provides several advantages on the battlefield.
"The target is designated by a reconnaissance drone," Vladyslav Piotrovskyi, co-founder and executive director of DWARF Engineering, told Ukrainska Pravda. "The advantage of this approach is that a drone equipped with a laser can engage targets from up to 3 km, automatically hitting them while ignoring electronic warfare. Without a laser, auto-targeting is limited to 400-800 m from the drone."
The DWARF Engineering team is working with Ukrainian start-up M-Fly to develop this system. M-Fly has created a gimbal (an optical module for reconnaissance drones) equipped with a camera, a thermal imager and a laser target designator.
M-Fly's cameras include a tracker, which DWARF Engineering has integrated into its autopilot guidance system, enabling it to switch to a laser-designated point during the final stage of flight.
"We have conducted a series of tests," Piotrovskyi said. "The integration is complete, and we are now fine-tuning. Work on the first deliveries is already underway."
Both teams plan to unveil their FPV laser guidance solution in the near future.
Effective, yet not definitive
Interest in high-precision targeting is increasing. Ukrainian manufacturers are incorporating Western solutions while developing their own technologies. Laser targeting systems are now being fitted on fixed-wing drones and bomber UAVs to guide munitions and bombs. These systems may soon be adapted for FPV platforms.
FRDM CEO Vadym Yunyk told Ukrainska Pravda that laser targeting represents a new challenge for Ukraine, and the market for such systems is expanding rapidly. After more than three and a half years of full-scale war, high-precision strikes have become essential for reducing ammunition consumption and shortening the time frontline units spend on operations. Laser guidance is one element of this trend.
However, laser guidance technology is well established and has been in use since the 1960s. This opens up certain opportunities for Ukraine to receive additional support and expertise in the field.
Laser-guided munitions are effective but not a complete solution. They offer clear advantages but also have drawbacks, such as vulnerability to weather and the risk of losing the target if the laser designation is interrupted.
GPS-guided munitions are also vulnerable to enemy electronic warfare. A careful mix of different systems is needed to match the realities of the front line. It is with such a system that laser guidance, alongside other elements of high-precision strikes, is poised to make a significant contribution to Ukraine's defence.
Author: Vladyslav Khrystoforov
Translation: Myroslava Zavadska and Artem Yakymyshyn
Editing: Susan McDonald