Russia is not letting the US weaponize space without a fight. When the US
Airborne Laser weapon (Being
YAL-1) R&D was
canceled after 16 years it did not mean the laser race was over. Russian begins
deploying laser air defence weapons. There are three theories that may advance why Russia is interested in laser based air defence: The first being the defence of Russian sovereignty from US stealth, high altitude and hypersonic planes like the
F-22,
X-37B and X-43A all immune to conventional defences. The second being Russian economic benefit from the sale of defensive weapon to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation of states. And lastly to maintain geopolitical balance with the United States.
Russia is not letting the US weaponize space without a fight. When the US Airborne Laser weapon (Being YAL-1) R&D was canceled after 16 years it did not mean the laser race was over. Russian begins deploying laser air defence weapons. There are three theories that may advance why Russia is interested in laser based air defence: The first being the defence of Russian sovereignty from US stealth, high altitude and hypersonic planes like the F-22, X-37B and X-43A all immune to conventional defences. The second being Russian economic benefit from the sale of defensive weapon to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation of states. And lastly to maintain geopolitical balance with the United States.
