{
  "id": 468726,
  "title": "Powerful anti-drone laser spotted on PLA amphibious ship in South China Sea",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/10/powerful-anti-drone-laser-spotted-on-pla-amphibious-ship-in-south",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-10T13:03:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3363564/powerful-anti-drone-laser-spotted-pla-amphibious-ship-south-china-sea"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "China has deployed its most advanced laser weapon, the Liaoyuan-1 (LY-1), on a Type 071 amphibious landing ship in the South China Sea, according to analysts. This development adds near-shore anti-drone capabilities to the PLA's fleet of warships vital for potential conflicts in sensitive waters. The LY-1 was spotted aboard the Qilianshan during a PLA joint air and naval drill at Scarborough Shoal on August 1, marking the latest large surface vessel equipped with the anti-drone directed-energy weapon. The deployment of the LY-1 on amphibious ships is particularly significant, as these vessels are often used for forceful messaging and are more likely to encounter unmanned aerial or surface drones in nearshore waters.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Reuters Business via SCMP",
        "title": "Powerful anti-drone laser spotted on PLA amphibious ship in South China Sea",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/10/powerful-anti-drone-laser-spotted-on-pla-amphibious-ship-in-south-469612",
        "published": "2026-08-10T13:03:37.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}