ROKETSAN has shared a test footage of the ALKA Directed Energy Weapon (DEW), where it detonated a 10 mm Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) block with the laser.
Other types of targets included in ALKA's target portfolio, such as rotary/fixed-wing UAVs and IEDs, were also destroyed. However, blowing up an ERA block is the most interesting part, as the engagement of armoured vehicles is not among the goals at the moment.
ROKETSAN might be aiming for ALKA to act as a scarecrow against incoming armoured vehicles in addition to defence against UAVs by soft/hard kill. With sufficient range, the enemy tank's crew might lose composure upon the ERA detonating, thinking the tank is receiving fire. Additionally, taking chunks off ERA can increase the chances of ATGMs or kamikaze UAVs successfully damaging the tank.
However, this is the case assuming ALKA could detonate the ERA before the tank can engage the tank, which requires further advancement in power generation considering the current effective range.
