Soviet laser pistol

Last updated
Soviet laser pistol
Type Laser
Place of originSoviet Union
Production history
DesignerV. S. Sulakvelidze (project manager),
B. N. Duvanov, A. V. Simonov,
L. I. Avakyants, V. V. Gorev [1]
Designed1984
VariantsRevolver
Specifications
Length180mm
Cartridge Pyrotechnic flashbulb
Effective firing range20 meters
Feed system8-round box magazine

The Soviet laser pistol was a prototype handgun-shaped energy weapon designed for use by cosmonauts in a low or zero-gravity environment that renders conventional firearms ineffective. The weapon was magazine fed and used pyrotechnic flashbulb technology to project its beam. [2] [3] One variation of the gun was a six-shot laser revolver. [4]

Contents

History and design

With the development of the Space Shuttle, the Soviets began to worry that the US would be able to snatch satellites from orbit and carry them back to Earth. This fear prompted the development of the laser gun. [5]

The weapons were designed to either disable optical sensors on enemy spacecraft or to flash-blind enemy astronauts when engaged in an orbital combat aboard or out of spacecraft. The last scenario was considered implausible, however, and the gun had no deadly force. [5] Its energy output was sufficient to inflict damage on optical devices and cause eye injuries. [4]

Because of the environment of its intended use, the gun had to be differently engineered than other hand held weapons:

To meet all the requirements, Soviet engineers designed a lamp filled with oxygen and containing metallic foil or powder. Instead of magnesium, which was traditionally used in strobe lights, the laser would be “fueled” by zirconium, which produced three times more light energy. Some metallic salt additives were used to match the wavelength of the flash with the range of the laser system. An yttrium aluminum garnet crystal initially served as a “medium” where the infrared laser beam would be generated after each flash. [5]

As Perestroika began and spurred the "new political thinking" disarmament doctrine, the project was terminated.

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Углов, В. И. Лазерный пистолет с пиротехнической лампой-вспышкой. Единая коллекция цифровых образовательных ресурсов (in Russian). ФГАУ ГНИИ ИТТ "Информика". Retrieved 22 Mar 2010.
  2. ↑ "67. Углов В. И. Лазерный пистолет с пиротехнической лампой-вспышкой". Памятники науки и техники в музеях России (in Russian). М.: Наука. 2005. p. 158. ISBN   5-02-033524-X.
  3. ↑ Углов, Валентин (2007). Уникальные экспонаты музея военной академии РВСН имени Петра Великого. Памятники науки и техники. Альманах «МАРС» (in Russian). 6. М.: Региональная общественная организация «Академия русской символики «МАРС». Retrieved 22 Mar 2010.
  4. 1 2 Дуванов, Борис; Павлушенко, Михаил (1995). Стреляющие светом. Оружие (in Russian). 12. Техника — молодёжи: 18–19.
  5. 1 2 3 Zak, Anatoly (2018-06-14). "The Soviet Laser Space Pistol, Revealed". Popular Mechanics.

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