Skywatcher
Captain
Yes, 100kw is the goal of Lockheed Martin's HEL MD (though such a power level would be well above that needed for LE/CT demands regarding very small UAVs).
chinese laser weapon development
- Thread starter maozedong
- Start date
Yes, 100kw is the goal of Lockheed Martin's HEL MD (though such a power level would be well above that needed for LE/CT demands regarding very small UAVs).
Is this being shown at zhuhai?
Anyway, if they're confident enough to put a picture and results of such a system up on state media that says to me they've got far more capable projects working behind the curtains. Though we could have safely presumed that even without this revelation, of course.
This system isn't a military one per se, but it is indicative of the kind of ambitions being pursued.
Anyway, if they're confident enough to put a picture and results of such a system up on state media that says to me they've got far more capable projects working behind the curtains. Though we could have safely presumed that even without this revelation, of course.
This system isn't a military one per se, but it is indicative of the kind of ambitions being pursued.
Skywatcher
Captain
It looks like it might be, and the developers don't seem to be the usual suspect of Chinese defense contractors.
Probably should note in Eastern Arsenal that the "drone hunting" community in the U.S. can't legally import it.... yet.
We already have several leaks on the Anti-satellite laser and potential anti-ballistic missile laser back in 2013. There were also reports of anti-rocket/mortar THEL weapons... I do believe that most of the information for those (tactical/strategic weapons) are heavily under wraps.
Interestingly, someone on CJDBY reported that the first generation Chinese point-defence lasers (to be fielded on the next generation destroyer and possibly Liaoning) has a wattage of around 10KW. I wonder if it is going to be fielded as a laser array, which will drastically increase the output intensity.
The prototype that got exposed seems to be a civilian model tailor-made for small, low-flying targets. Seems like it is for civilian use only (shooting down aircraft models/drones that may pose a threat to airports).
Last edited:
The source did say that despite the low power (compared with other CIWS lasers in development), it made up for it to a certain extent with high beam intensity. Since I have no background in laser I can't say whether the mechanism for it is plausible or not.
Skywatcher
Captain
Xinhua quoted Mr. Yi saying that the Academy and Jiuyang planned to up the laser's power and range in future versions. And the Academy is definitely not the only Chinese institute researching powerful lasers...
And there was a CCTV 7 broadcast from Nov 2012 that showed a PLA AD unit shooting down a target drone with a laser, presumably truck mounted (definitely well over 10kW, given that the AD unit had a decently large radar and the UAV in question was probably a MALE).
And there was a CCTV 7 broadcast from Nov 2012 that showed a PLA AD unit shooting down a target drone with a laser, presumably truck mounted (definitely well over 10kW, given that the AD unit had a decently large radar and the UAV in question was probably a MALE).
Wait... do you have a link to that?
Skywatcher
Captain
Yup, here we go.
Though it's hard to get past a lot of the op-ed the poster put in, and I've yet to find the original CCTV 7 November 19 2012 broadcast.
Last edited:
Article seems like sensationalist B.S. Do you know where I can get the link to the original video?
Nvmd I found it. The original video talks about targeting laser for anti-aircraft cannon, which isn't a DEW.
I think the news would've made rounds on here and other military forums back in 2012 if it were true.
Last edited: