Aerospace Defense Tactics for Laser Weapons Systems Usage Against UAV Threats

Background & Purpose: In recent years, the rapid advancements in military technologies have made the role of modern equipment in the conflict scene more prominent, and the diversity of threats has increased the necessity of utilizing a wide range of surface-to-air weapons, especially in the field of air defense. One of the newest defense technologies that has attracted the attention of military commanders is the use of lasers as directed energy weapons to counter and destroy unmanned aircraft. Accordingly, the use of laser weapons systems as defensive weapons requires careful examination based on the four principles of mass (concentration), combination, integration, and mobility, which are discussed.
Methodology: This research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-survey with a mixed approach in terms of method. Data collection tools include document review, interviews, and questionnaires. The statistical population in the interview section includes 14 experts and elites in the relevant field who have been selected purposefully. The qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. In addition, in the quantitative section, 50 experts from the Air Defense Force of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Khatam al-Anbiya Air Defense Headquarters were randomly selected and studied. The quantitative data were collected through a questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS software, applying the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test and the one-sample t-test.
Findings: The results of the qualitative analysis indicated the identification of 28 indicators grouped into four categories. Ten indicators were extracted for the principle of mass, four indicators for the principle of integration, seven indicators for the principle of combination, and seven indicators for the principle of mobility. According to the results of the t-test, all identified indicators were confirmed.
Conclusion: The strategies for using laser weapons systems to counter drone threats in air defense were identified and prioritized based on the analysis of documents, evidence, and interviews with experts within the framework of the four principles of mass, combination, integration, and mobility which can be considered a valid basis for decision-making and enhancing the effectiveness of laser systems in the field of air defense.