1K17 Szhatie
The 1K17 Szhatie (Russian: 1К17 Сжатие — "Compression") is a self-propelled laser vehicle of Soviet origin. The platform uses a modified 2S19 "Msta" chassis with a battery of solid state laser projectors mounted in the turret. It was developed by the Soviet Union in order to disable the optical-electronic equipment of enemy missiles, ground and aerial vehicles.
1K17 Szhatie

Vitaly V. Kuzmin · Vitalykuzmin.net · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Field
- directed-energy weapon and armored fighting vehicle.
- Period
- 1990.
- Region
- Soviet Union and Russia.
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
The 1K17 Szhatie (Russian: 1К17 Сжатие — "Compression") is a self-propelled laser vehicle of Soviet origin. The platform uses a modified 2S19 "Msta" chassis with a battery of solid state laser projectors mounted in the turret. It was developed by the Soviet Union in order to disable the optical-electronic equipment of enemy missiles, ground and aerial vehicles.
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Documentary evidence
Evidence Panel
original value insufficient · checked 25 September 2026
- Identity
- resolved
- Independent source families
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Authority files
wikidata · Q2975949 · wikipedia · 1K17 Szhatie
In this article
History
History
The 1K17 Szhatie was developed in the 1970s and 1980s. Although the Soviet Union attempted to keep the plans secret, the Pentagon managed to obtain drawings from defectors. Western intelligence services code named it the Stiletto. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the development of the Szhatie was abandoned, as the development and manufacturing of the laser projection system had become too expensive and unnecessary. Two of these "tanks" were tested, with one being scrapped and the other being displayed in the Army Technology Museum near Moscow, but without its laser projector.
Design
Design
The "tank" used an intense laser beam to disable the optical-electronic equipment of the enemy vehicles. This was created by focusing light through 30 kg of artificial rubies, which made the whole system very expensive to produce. The optics that produced the laser were placed at the end of a silver coated spiral which helped amplify the beam and increase convergence. The energy to power the laser was provided by a generator and an auxiliary battery system. The lenses themselves were able to operate in different environments by moving metal caps closer to protect the lens. It was also equipped with a 12.7mm NSV machine gun to defend itself against attacks by infantry and air. A similar laser system was also developed around the same time named "Sangvin", which was based on the ZSU-23-4 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun.
Romanian folk tale
Romanian folk tale
This vehicle has sparked a folk tale in Romania according to which Romanian President Nicolae Ceaușescu used "laser weapons" in 1968 against Russian tanks. It claims that, after the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia, Ceaușescu received a telegram from the Foreign Ministry of the United Kingdom stating that the country was a target for a large-scale attack. Believing that the Soviets would invade Romania next, especially after squashing the Prague Spring, Ceaușescu ordered the deployment of Romanian troops to reinforce the border with the USSR and equipped them with the so-called "laser weapons". There are no witnesses or evidence to support that this encounter was real or that such weapon ever existed.
Chronology
Dated record
Chronology
The full dated record · 2 entries
1990
1K17 Szhatie first recorded.
1990
1K17 Szhatie is recorded from 1990.
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q2975949: 1K17 Szhatie
Unverified · Wikidata
reference work
- “1K17 Szhatie”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Soviet Union (1990-1992) Self-Propelled Laser Complex – 1 Prototype Built. The Online Tank Museum.
- 2.Армейский вестник. Боевые квантовые генераторы СССР. army-news.ru.
- 3.Teodoreanu, Daniel. TANCURILE RUSEŞTI topite de ARMA LASER a României, în 1968. Adevăr sau propagandă în SUPER LEGENDA COMUNISMULUI? Există informaţii, dar nimeni nu şi le asumă. evz.ro. January 7, 2016.
References
Citations
References
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authority record
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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