Soviet laser pistol

The Soviet laser pistol was a prototype handgun-shaped energy weapon designed to be utilized by cosmonauts for use in an environment, which render ineffective conventional firearms (for its recoil, blast, exhaust gases and sound discharge would be critically damaging for the shooter and for the carrier spacecraft if used in zero-gravity, artificial atmosphere conditions.) The weapon was magazine fed and used pyrotechnic flashbulb technology to project its beam.[2][3] Another type of the gun was a six-shot Laser revolver.[4]

Soviet laser pistol
TypeLaser
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
CartridgePyrotechnic flashbulb
Effective firing range20 meters
Feed system8-round box magazine

Design

The weapons were designed to either disable optical sensors on enemy spacecraft, or to flash-blind the enemy astronauts when engaged in an orbital combat aboard or out of spacecraft. Its energy output was sufficient enough to inflict damage on optical devices and eye injuries, and did no damage to other hardware and tissues.[4]

Project cancellation

As the Perestroika began and spurred the New political thinking disarmament doctrine, the project was soon terminated.

See also

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). М.: Региональная общественная организация «Академия русской символики «МАРС». 6. Retrieved 22 Mar 2010.
  4. Дуванов, Борис; Павлушенко, Михаил (1995). Стреляющие светом. Оружие (in Russian). Техника — молодёжи. 12: 18–19.

External images
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.