Powerful anti-drone laser spotted on PLA amphibious ship in South China Sea
China’s most advanced laser weapon has been spotted aboard a Type 071 amphibious landing ship in the South China Sea, adding near-shore anti-drone capabilities to a family of warships vital for potential conflicts in sensitive waters, according to analysts. In a People’s Liberation Army joint air and naval drill at Scarborough Shoal on August 1, a shipborne laser weapon believed to be the…
A high-powered laser weapon, potentially the Liaoyuan-1 (LY-1), has been observed aboard a PLA Type 071 amphibious landing ship in the South China Sea, according to analysts. The sighting occurred during a People's Liberation Army joint air and naval drill on August 1 at Scarborough Shoal, also known as Huangyan Island. Video footage released by state broadcaster CCTV showed a rectangular object positioned behind the Qilianshan's 76mm dual-purpose gun, leading retired Taiwanese navy lieutenant commander Lu Li-shih to believe it was the LY-1.
This weapon, designed for close-range interception of incoming missiles and drones, would serve as the last line of defense in the ship's air-defense system. Analyst Collin Koh suggested the Qilianshan's presence at the drill was intended to send a strong message to both the Philippines and the US, whose USS George Washington carrier is currently present in the region.
Laser weapons offer advantages such as high endurance, low operating costs, and counter unmanned aerial warfare effectively, making them a growing area of investment for various nations, including the US. The PLA has equipped several amphibious ships with high-energy weapons, including the Type 075 landing helicopter dock and the larger Type 076 amphibious assault ship.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
