How does China 'hint' about using laser weapons on land?

Officially unveiled at a major military parade in early September, a new large-scale directed energy laser weapon has attracted attention. Called the LY-1, the laser has so far been described as primarily intended for self-defense purposes on ships, but when it appeared at the parade, its demonstration showed that it could also be used on land.

Not much is known about the LY-1 laser mounted on the turret, including its power. However, the most obvious feature is that the weapon has a circular face with a single, very large aperture for directing the beam. There are also several smaller circular apertures, one of which is connected to an electro-optical and/or infrared camera used to acquire and track targets.

LY-1 debuted at China's military parade.

A box-shaped structure on the right side of the turret (left side when viewed from the front) may contain an additional sensor, such as a radar or passive radio frequency sensor, or other system components.

What do the experts say?

“The LY-1 has enough space for power units, meaning it can have higher power, allowing it to intercept not only attacks from drones but also anti-ship missiles, at a very low cost per shot,” the Global Times quoted an independent expert as saying.

“This laser weapon, if deployed on a ship, could effectively damage the optical sensors of enemy weapons and equipment,” the expert said.

Meanwhile, at the parade, the LY-1 was introduced with “precision destruction and continuous attack capabilities”.

Based on the information that has been released, laser directed energy weapons in development around the world are divided into two categories: the first, called blinders, designed to blind optics, including optical seekers on incoming missiles; and the higher-power types, which are capable of physically damaging or destroying targets. The high-power types can also be designed to incorporate low-power capabilities.

The size and configuration of the LY-1, along with the above descriptions, suggest that it may fall into the high-power weapon category, with a primary focus on protecting warships from aerial threats such as drones and missiles.

Reflects level of development?

How soon and in what form the LY-1 might be operational remains unclear. Last year, a laser directed energy weapon with a configuration very similar to the LY-1 was seen on a Type 071 amphibious assault ship of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Back in 2019, China's state-run CCTV-7 also aired footage of a laser directed energy weapon with a similar but simpler design, which was said to be under development.

Laser weapon versions are believed to be under development in China.

Shipboard self-defense is a major focus of laser directed energy development programs around the world , including in the United States. In general, the LY-1 is similar in configuration and size to laser weapons that the U.S. Navy has been deploying in increasing numbers in recent years, particularly the High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Illuminator (HELIOS) weapon.

The system on China’s Type 071 aircraft carrier last year also had a retractable protective canopy to help shield it from the elements when not in use. A laser weapons system the US Navy tested on the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Dewey in 2012 had a similar cover. Another laser system was notably tested on the USS Portland, a San Antonio-class amphibious assault ship, which has a similar configuration to the Type 071.

It should be noted that lasers are generally very sensitive to environmental factors, including smoke, clouds, rain, or other airborne particles, all of which can disrupt the beam and reduce its effectiveness. The power of the beam will gradually decrease as it propagates through the atmosphere and travels farther from the source. When developing a practical and reliable laser weapon system that can be used in actual combat, especially when at sea for months at a time and exposed to salt water vapor, the adaptive nature of their optics presents additional challenges.

However, the benefits that high-power laser directed energy weapons bring in defense are relevant across maritime, land and air domains, with the use in land-based systems being worth noting.

There is precedent for adapting naval weapons systems, particularly those designed for close-in defense, for shore-based use. The U.S. Army’s Centurion, a land-based version of the Phalanx Close-in Weapon System (CIWS) armed with a 20mm Vulcan cannon, which is deployed on numerous U.S. and foreign Navy warships, is a prime example. China has also previously developed its own naval gun-equipped CIWS versions for land use.

A HELIOS laser directed energy weapon installed on the USS Preble, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer of the US Navy. (Photo: USN)

A land-based version of the LY-1 could provide an additional layer of defense against drones, cruise missiles, and even helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, depending on its effective range and actual power. If the system operated independently, it could also be capable of engaging moving targets.

Significant investment
China has apparently invested significantly in fielding a variety of high-power laser and microwave directed energy weapons, including more advanced ground-based lasers designed to at least disrupt the operations of satellites in orbit.

There are also smaller ground-based laser weapons, primarily for anti-drone roles, some of which were also on display. Chinese companies have been successful in securing export sales of systems in that general category, including to Saudi Arabia and Iran, and reportedly Russia.

While there is still much to learn about the LY-1 and China's plans, it is the latest example of the country's efforts to develop and field laser weapons and other directed energy weapons in a variety of domains.

>>> Readers are invited to watch more videos : China demonstrates anti-drone formation and laser weapons in the September 3 parade