Isn't there a Ban on Military Laser blinders?
chinese laser weapon development
- Thread starter maozedong
- Start date
Isn't there a Ban on Military Laser blinders?
Only if it causes permanent damages to the eyes. However there are loopholes to the law.
antiterror13
Brigadier
It is (again) your assumption (and again wrong)! When did the last time you read ? Mr Steppers ?
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Bryan Mcgarth of Information Dissemination writes briefly about chinese developments in laser weaponry and some background history. Good for people who are unfamiliar with PLA efforts in laser technology.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Directed Energy and Electric Weapon Systems (DEEWS) Serial 3: China
This is the third in an occasional series of posts designed to discuss the future and prospects of Directed Energy and Electric Weapons Systems (DEEWS). We have previously introduced the topic of DEEWS and differentiated among the various approaches. In this post, I will remind some and inform others that the United States is not the only country pursuing some of these weapons. China, Russia, India, Iran, South Korea, France, Israel, and Germany all have made commitments to and technical progress in DEEWS research and development programs. In their 2007 unclassified report on Directed Energy Weapons, the Defense Science Board (DSB) “did not attempt to describe specific threats or ascribe threat capabilities to specific potential adversaries.” However, they were willing to state that:
“Laser systems that could disable space-based and airborne sensors—either permanently or temporarily—are available to potential adversaries to include non-state actors. Increased design attention to protection against these capabilities is needed. Similarly, high-power microwave technologies that can be exploited to damage or disable electronic components of essential communications networks are available to a range of potential adversaries, including non- state actors.”
I choose to focus my post on the Chinese DEEWS due to their level of commitment (in terms of resources and longevity) and their growing importance in planning for the U.S. Department of Defense.
Numerous open sources recount China’s historically dedicated and burgeoning efforts in the field of DEEWS. On 6 February 1964, during his meeting with Dr. Qian Xuesen (the “Father of Chinese Rocketry”), Chairman Mao Zedong expounded on earlier remarks and formulated the famous “640 Directive,” calling for the development of strategic defensive weapons, including lasers. Consequently, the Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics (SIOM) was founded in 1964 with the task of developing an anti-missile laser. Since then, it has been widely recognized as the most important research center in the field of laser science and technology in China. The 640 Program suffered during the Cultural Revolution, was then revived, but ultimately was cancelled in March 1980 by Deng Xiaoping as Head of the Chinese General Staff Department. None*theless, SIOM continued conducting indige*nous research and publishing findings internationally.[1] In 1970, the Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics (AIOFM), arguably the second most important laser research center in China, was established. Concomitantly, throughout the 1980s, China received significant Israeli assistance in the fields of targeting laser and high-energy laser research.[2], [3]
Chinese research has consistently progressed as documented by Mark Stokes’ 1999 detailed report, “China’s Strategic Modernization: Implications for the United States.” In it, he utilized Chinese sources to research the Chinese laser research base, finding that “…an estimated 10,000 people, including approximately 3,000 engineers, in 300 organizations are involved in China’s laser program. Almost 40 percent of China’s laser R&D is for military purposes.”[4] More importantly, he categorized Chinese research in crucial laser fields such as adaptive optics as third best in the world behind the United States and Germany. Lasers are part of a larger class of weapons known to the Chinese as “new concept weapons” (xin gainian wuqi), including high-power lasers, high-power microwaves, rail*guns, coil guns, particle beam weapons, etc. (essentially DEEWS).
More than a decade later, public information on Chinese DEEWS remains scarce. However, the wealth of Chinese scientific publications and the fact that a significant portion of DEEWS components are produced in China confirms it is now a world leader in the field. The 2006 DoD annual “China Military Power” report to Congress detailed a major effort in laser and radio frequency directed energy weapons. Later that year, China reportedly fired a ground-based high-power laser at and blinded U.S. surveillance satellites in orbit over China. Although debate ensued as to whether China was laser ranging to determine satellite orbits or actually intended to dazzle or blind the satellites, China’s test demonstrated a significant new capability. Satellite imagery analysis by Sean O’Connor, an internationally renowned analyst and author of the IMINT & Analysis blog, has since identified the potential sliding hangar locations of space-oriented Free Electron Lasers at the AIOFM center in Hefei, the Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP) center in Mianyang, and the laser Anti-Satellite (ASAT) site in Xinjiang province.
As of now, there are at least three types of Chinese laser weapons confirmed: the banned, blinding ZM-87 Portable Laser Disturber; the JD-3 integrated laser rangefinder/warning/self-defense device mounted on Type 98 main battle tanks; and the laser responsible for the 2006 satellite blinding.[5] The scope and amount of Chinese research, however, strongly suggests Chinese DEEWS research proceeds briskly and will likely achieve fieldable DEEWS in the near future. Additionally, China may be able to leverage its sizable technical labor pool and domestic DEEWS component production sector to reach or surpass the achievements of adversaries.
So, what should the average American reader take away from this blog post and its several links? First, it would be incorrect and potentially arrogant for the U.S. to believe it is in the driver’s seat when it comes to the fielding of DEEWS weapons in operationally relevant forms. In fact, I had a conversation just last week with a former high-ranking official of the U.S. military science and technology establishment who told me that no one “…should be surprised…” if the Chinese are first to field a laser for use in the maritime environment. Second, it occurs to me that the United States should be considering methods of countering DEEWS, which appears to be ongoing. Third, there appears to be a clear sense from other nations—both allied and otherwise—that warfare is moving increasingly in the direction of DEEWS. Given the tensions between the desire of many Americans to remain the world’s premier military power and the resources we are willing to devote to it, increased emphasis must be given to systems and capabilities that offer the possibility of engagement for dollars per shot rather than hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of dollars per shot.
Finally, it seems to me that the race to the best technology is only part of the issue here. Of equal importance is getting the technologies quickly into the hands of the warfighters, where they can innovate in ways not considered by the weapons designers, while devising appropriate tactics, techniques and procedures for the employment of these weapons. We used to be pretty good at getting things out into the fleet quickly, but it seems we’ve slowed down somewhat in the past couple of decades—and certainly, DEEWS is taking longer than it ought. I doubt the PLA(N) will move with our deliberation.
[1] “One of the eight scientific fields receiving special emphasis in the People's Republic of China these days is lasers. At the International Quantum Electronics Conference in 1980, 7 of the 150 papers accepted were from China.”
Gloria B. Lubkin. “China Emphasizes Laser Research,” Physics Today, Volume 33, Issue 5, May 1980.
[2] In the 1980s, China had obtained from Israel a copper vapor laser gun sight for use on T-54 tanks. John W. Garver. China and Iran: Ancient Partners in a Post-Imperial World, University of Washington Press, 15 February 2007, 150.
[3] Washington Times staff writer Bill Gertz cited a DIA report accusing Israel of selling U.S. Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL) laser technology to China and pressuring American defense contractors to make restricted software codes related to classified laser research available to Israeli defense companies. Bill Gertz. “Israel Suspected of Transferring U.S. Laser Weapon Data to China,” The Washington Times, 27 January 1999.
[4] “Situation, Development of Laser Industry in China,” Yingyong Jiguang (Applied Laser Technology), June 1990, JPRS-CST-90-028.
[5] “Military Power of the People’s Republic of China, 2009”, Annual Report to Congress, Office of the Secretary of Defense, U.S. Department of Defense, 2009, p. 27.
Bryan McGrath
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Directed Energy and Electric Weapon Systems (DEEWS) Serial 3: China
This is the third in an occasional series of posts designed to discuss the future and prospects of Directed Energy and Electric Weapons Systems (DEEWS). We have previously introduced the topic of DEEWS and differentiated among the various approaches. In this post, I will remind some and inform others that the United States is not the only country pursuing some of these weapons. China, Russia, India, Iran, South Korea, France, Israel, and Germany all have made commitments to and technical progress in DEEWS research and development programs. In their 2007 unclassified report on Directed Energy Weapons, the Defense Science Board (DSB) “did not attempt to describe specific threats or ascribe threat capabilities to specific potential adversaries.” However, they were willing to state that:
“Laser systems that could disable space-based and airborne sensors—either permanently or temporarily—are available to potential adversaries to include non-state actors. Increased design attention to protection against these capabilities is needed. Similarly, high-power microwave technologies that can be exploited to damage or disable electronic components of essential communications networks are available to a range of potential adversaries, including non- state actors.”
I choose to focus my post on the Chinese DEEWS due to their level of commitment (in terms of resources and longevity) and their growing importance in planning for the U.S. Department of Defense.
Numerous open sources recount China’s historically dedicated and burgeoning efforts in the field of DEEWS. On 6 February 1964, during his meeting with Dr. Qian Xuesen (the “Father of Chinese Rocketry”), Chairman Mao Zedong expounded on earlier remarks and formulated the famous “640 Directive,” calling for the development of strategic defensive weapons, including lasers. Consequently, the Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics (SIOM) was founded in 1964 with the task of developing an anti-missile laser. Since then, it has been widely recognized as the most important research center in the field of laser science and technology in China. The 640 Program suffered during the Cultural Revolution, was then revived, but ultimately was cancelled in March 1980 by Deng Xiaoping as Head of the Chinese General Staff Department. None*theless, SIOM continued conducting indige*nous research and publishing findings internationally.[1] In 1970, the Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics (AIOFM), arguably the second most important laser research center in China, was established. Concomitantly, throughout the 1980s, China received significant Israeli assistance in the fields of targeting laser and high-energy laser research.[2], [3]
Chinese research has consistently progressed as documented by Mark Stokes’ 1999 detailed report, “China’s Strategic Modernization: Implications for the United States.” In it, he utilized Chinese sources to research the Chinese laser research base, finding that “…an estimated 10,000 people, including approximately 3,000 engineers, in 300 organizations are involved in China’s laser program. Almost 40 percent of China’s laser R&D is for military purposes.”[4] More importantly, he categorized Chinese research in crucial laser fields such as adaptive optics as third best in the world behind the United States and Germany. Lasers are part of a larger class of weapons known to the Chinese as “new concept weapons” (xin gainian wuqi), including high-power lasers, high-power microwaves, rail*guns, coil guns, particle beam weapons, etc. (essentially DEEWS).
More than a decade later, public information on Chinese DEEWS remains scarce. However, the wealth of Chinese scientific publications and the fact that a significant portion of DEEWS components are produced in China confirms it is now a world leader in the field. The 2006 DoD annual “China Military Power” report to Congress detailed a major effort in laser and radio frequency directed energy weapons. Later that year, China reportedly fired a ground-based high-power laser at and blinded U.S. surveillance satellites in orbit over China. Although debate ensued as to whether China was laser ranging to determine satellite orbits or actually intended to dazzle or blind the satellites, China’s test demonstrated a significant new capability. Satellite imagery analysis by Sean O’Connor, an internationally renowned analyst and author of the IMINT & Analysis blog, has since identified the potential sliding hangar locations of space-oriented Free Electron Lasers at the AIOFM center in Hefei, the Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP) center in Mianyang, and the laser Anti-Satellite (ASAT) site in Xinjiang province.
As of now, there are at least three types of Chinese laser weapons confirmed: the banned, blinding ZM-87 Portable Laser Disturber; the JD-3 integrated laser rangefinder/warning/self-defense device mounted on Type 98 main battle tanks; and the laser responsible for the 2006 satellite blinding.[5] The scope and amount of Chinese research, however, strongly suggests Chinese DEEWS research proceeds briskly and will likely achieve fieldable DEEWS in the near future. Additionally, China may be able to leverage its sizable technical labor pool and domestic DEEWS component production sector to reach or surpass the achievements of adversaries.
So, what should the average American reader take away from this blog post and its several links? First, it would be incorrect and potentially arrogant for the U.S. to believe it is in the driver’s seat when it comes to the fielding of DEEWS weapons in operationally relevant forms. In fact, I had a conversation just last week with a former high-ranking official of the U.S. military science and technology establishment who told me that no one “…should be surprised…” if the Chinese are first to field a laser for use in the maritime environment. Second, it occurs to me that the United States should be considering methods of countering DEEWS, which appears to be ongoing. Third, there appears to be a clear sense from other nations—both allied and otherwise—that warfare is moving increasingly in the direction of DEEWS. Given the tensions between the desire of many Americans to remain the world’s premier military power and the resources we are willing to devote to it, increased emphasis must be given to systems and capabilities that offer the possibility of engagement for dollars per shot rather than hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of dollars per shot.
Finally, it seems to me that the race to the best technology is only part of the issue here. Of equal importance is getting the technologies quickly into the hands of the warfighters, where they can innovate in ways not considered by the weapons designers, while devising appropriate tactics, techniques and procedures for the employment of these weapons. We used to be pretty good at getting things out into the fleet quickly, but it seems we’ve slowed down somewhat in the past couple of decades—and certainly, DEEWS is taking longer than it ought. I doubt the PLA(N) will move with our deliberation.
[1] “One of the eight scientific fields receiving special emphasis in the People's Republic of China these days is lasers. At the International Quantum Electronics Conference in 1980, 7 of the 150 papers accepted were from China.”
Gloria B. Lubkin. “China Emphasizes Laser Research,” Physics Today, Volume 33, Issue 5, May 1980.
[2] In the 1980s, China had obtained from Israel a copper vapor laser gun sight for use on T-54 tanks. John W. Garver. China and Iran: Ancient Partners in a Post-Imperial World, University of Washington Press, 15 February 2007, 150.
[3] Washington Times staff writer Bill Gertz cited a DIA report accusing Israel of selling U.S. Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL) laser technology to China and pressuring American defense contractors to make restricted software codes related to classified laser research available to Israeli defense companies. Bill Gertz. “Israel Suspected of Transferring U.S. Laser Weapon Data to China,” The Washington Times, 27 January 1999.
[4] “Situation, Development of Laser Industry in China,” Yingyong Jiguang (Applied Laser Technology), June 1990, JPRS-CST-90-028.
[5] “Military Power of the People’s Republic of China, 2009”, Annual Report to Congress, Office of the Secretary of Defense, U.S. Department of Defense, 2009, p. 27.
Bryan McGrath
Thnx for sharing blitzo, this article is interesting in many ways.
First of all the paper mentioned project 640. I saw some recently declassified documents on project 640 and the tests (keep in mind that they occurred during the 70s!) involved using high energy lasers to heat up aluminum targets at long distances. The scientists and engineers concluded that lasers were "premature" for missile defense applications. I think that recent advances in reflective coating technology used for precise targeting and advancements in fiber optics and solid state lasers which reduce over all power consumption may make missile defense lasers feasible. Take the recent articles by cnki about Zhao Yijun and Li Wei, for example. We know for a fact that China has dedicated a great deal of money research "hard-kill" missile defense platforms and a working prototype capable of tracking and engaging moving targets has existed since 2005.
The statement by the high ranking defense official is very interesting if he had access to classified material. He said that it would be no surprise if China comes up with a working maritime laser platform before anyone else, which I assume implies fielding the device. This coincides with the rumors (around for quite some years) that a point-defense laser system will be fielded on China's next generation DDG. Perhaps there is some truth to the rumor.
First of all the paper mentioned project 640. I saw some recently declassified documents on project 640 and the tests (keep in mind that they occurred during the 70s!) involved using high energy lasers to heat up aluminum targets at long distances. The scientists and engineers concluded that lasers were "premature" for missile defense applications. I think that recent advances in reflective coating technology used for precise targeting and advancements in fiber optics and solid state lasers which reduce over all power consumption may make missile defense lasers feasible. Take the recent articles by cnki about Zhao Yijun and Li Wei, for example. We know for a fact that China has dedicated a great deal of money research "hard-kill" missile defense platforms and a working prototype capable of tracking and engaging moving targets has existed since 2005.
The statement by the high ranking defense official is very interesting if he had access to classified material. He said that it would be no surprise if China comes up with a working maritime laser platform before anyone else, which I assume implies fielding the device. This coincides with the rumors (around for quite some years) that a point-defense laser system will be fielded on China's next generation DDG. Perhaps there is some truth to the rumor.
That is exactly what I thought of when I read that section too.
Definitely possible. I am not ruling out the possibility that he got the idea from Chinese forum posts. There has been a quite nasty incident in the past regarding the Chinese killer mini-sats. He may use such info to justify the implementation of FELs on DDG-1000
However we do know for a fact that such weapons are actually under development and since the official media is so quiet about them, much like how they were about the J-20 before it came out, we must gather info from indirect sources. The anticipation is what makes it worthwhile.
It could be, this game is very duplicitous.
But it's been open knowledge for quite a while that china has been investing heavily into lasers and similar "future" weapons.
And bryan mcgrath's post is more of a summary of such open material that one could find if they were looking for it. And information dissemination usually makes quite clear its intentions (and what measures should be taken for what issues the USN faces). The write up about lasers seems just that, a write up, not exactly an insidious call that the US needed to dramatically up its game in lasers or anything.
You are confusing what agenda the officer might have compared to what a blog which quotes said quote might have.
And what's more he doesn't even have to be consciously spreading misinformation, all of us have our biases and military officers are not immune from them. The officer who has a clear-sighted ability to evaluate a potential foe's capabilities and intentions is the exception rather than the rule. And the officer quoted wasn't even named and it is telling that he/ she works with R&D rather than intelligence. It is quite possible that he/she has no real information in the area.