 |
| Chinese anti-drone laser weapon |
By Ankit Panda
Chinese engineers have successfully built lasers to counter low-altitude, low-speed drones.
Earlier this week, the Associated Press reported that Chinese engineers successfully tested a laser weapon capable of taking down a relatively slow-flying, low-altitude drone. Although one’s first impulse might be to tie this development in with broader trends in Chinese military technology and to assume that the weapon would eventually be used for defense against state military drones, Chinese state media claim that the laser system would eventually be used for counter-terrorism and domestic security purposes.
Xinhua‘s report covering the development earlier this week highlights the potential for terrorists to used drones mounted with light explosives as a potential attack vehicle in crowded public areas or during public events. Given the proliferation of cheap consumer drone technology, China suspects that homegrown terrorists might take to the skies. Where traditionally infantry or police armed with precision weaponry might be given charge of monitoring the skies for unwanted drones, a laser system ensures a significantly higher success rate in actually shooting down drones — at least in theory. Yi Jinsong, a manager with China Jiuyuan Hi-Tech Equipment Corp., told Xinhua that ”intercepting such drones is usually the work of snipers and helicopters, but their success rate is not as high and mistakes with accuracy can result in unwanted damage.”
Read the full story at The Diplomat