Azerbaijan shows laser and microwave weapon systems

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev opened the reconstructed Tartar Electromechanical Plant on January 13, during a visit in which newly developed directed-energy counter-drone systems were shown for the first time. The plant has been modernized as part of Azerbaijan’s expanding defense-industrial program overseen by the Ministry of Defense Industry.

According to information provided during the visit, President Aliyev began the event by placing flowers at the bust of Heydar Aliyev located on the plant’s grounds. After reviewing the renovated production facilities, the head of state was shown two mobile counter-drone systems mounted on 4×4 armored platforms. The systems appeared in footage recorded during the visit and were later confirmed as new directed-energy weapons under national development.

The first system, named Magic Beam, is designed to neutralize small and medium aerial targets using a high-energy laser with a stated output of around 30 kilowatts. According to officials, the system is being developed in a mobile configuration integrated onto a lightweight armored 4×4 vehicle. Magic Beam uses electrical power and therefore requires no ammunition, allowing rapid reaction times and precise engagements. The system is intended for short-range protection of military units, critical infrastructure, border points, and convoys.

Magic Beam is intended to counter small unmanned aerial vehicles, which have become a persistent threat in regional military environments. The system’s laser is designed to deliver concentrated energy on a target to disable or destroy it, supporting missions that demand quiet operation, controlled effects and reduced logistical requirements.

The second platform presented during the visit was identified as Pulsar, developed by the same manufacturer. Pulsar is described as a more powerful system based on a microwave-emitting payload designed to disable small unmanned aerial systems using concentrated bursts of radio-frequency energy. Officials stated that the system is engineered to deliver instantaneous effects on drone electronics, though additional details have not yet been disclosed.

According to the plant representatives, both systems are mounted on armored 4×4 chassis to allow rapid deployment and movement across front-line or border areas. The vehicles shown during the visit featured armored cabins and elevated sensor and emitter units positioned for wide-angle coverage. Azerbaijan has expanded its investment in counter-UAV technology following repeated drone-related incidents across the region.

The introduction of directed-energy systems such as Magic Beam and Pulsar expands Azerbaijan’s portfolio of counter-drone capabilities at a time when unmanned aerial systems have reshaped modern battlefield tactics. The ability to field laser and microwave-based defenses using mobile platforms reflects an effort to address drone threats in both military and civil-infrastructure environments.