By: C Shraddha
The contemporary world has undergone significant military transformation, with the technological and scientific advancements of a few international players overshadowing the others. Laser technology innovation materialising out of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has enabled the country to top the list as a trailblazer in scientific innovation and development. The potential of the country to redefine modern warfare has raised concerns amongst prominent international powers, especially the United States of America.
In 2022, a paper published by Professor Yao Jianquan and team in the Journal of National University of Defence Technology was lauded as a leap in integrating hypersonic weapons with 6G technology for the purpose of a space defence system. An eminent laser scientist, Professor Yao, appraised the experiment as a “critical improvement in China’s near-space defence”. The experiment successfully achieved a “complete penetration” of signal-blocking shields around hypersonic weapons using electromagnetic waves. Furthermore, this development enables Chinese scientists to rectify the problem known as a “black barrier”. This issue arises when a hypersonic weapon is unable to maintain communication with the outside world due to surface blockade of electromagnetic waves created by ionised gas. Additionally, the black barrier hinders radar detection and identification of hypersonic weapons due to the presence of the plasma shelter.
The creation of this laser device by Professor Yao and his team has been extensively explored for the adaptation to military applications such as high-speed communication in space and radar for stealth aircraft detection. Furthermore, the invention generates continuous electromagnetic wave beams in the terahertz band, which would travel across the plasma shield created by the hypersonic weapon at 10 times the speed of sound. Thus, wiping the “black barrier” out of existence.
A year later, in 2023, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) claim of a “major breakthrough” in energy weapons technology. As per the report, scientists at the National University of Defence Technology in Changsha engineered a cutting-edge cooling system. In a move that could alter modern warfare, this state-of-the-art technology would enable high-energy lasers to remain charged without heating, making them capable of shooting laser beams indefinitely. Furthermore, it would eliminate the damaging heat expended during the usage of high-energy lasers.
As per laser weapon scientist Yuan Shengfu, “This is a huge breakthrough in improving the performance of high-energy laser systems.” Previously, in the field of laser weapon development, the issue of cooling had hindered desirable progress. Even attempts of innovation by US organisations such as the Middle Infrared Advanced Chemical Laser (MIRACL), Space-Based Laser (SBL), Navy Advanced Chemical Laser (NACL) and Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL) proved to be unfruitful. While a portion of these weapons were able to destroy supersonic missiles during a US military field test, they were ultimately cancelled due to the weight of the lasers and their sheer size. According to Mr Shengfu, whereas US missiles have a limited range of only a couple of kilometres, the newly developed Chinese laser beam is capable of surpassing their performance. Former British military official, Steve Weaver, commented on X (formerly Twitter), “If they have overcome the heating and distortion issues as claimed, in a (relatively) small enough unit for deployment, this is a big breakthrough considering the US failures in this area.” The advanced cooling system, combined with optimised gas flow to reduce heat production, has increased China’s potential to alter methods of modern warfare. According to researchers, a reduction in vibration, turbulence, and improved mirror cleanliness make the system a superior innovation. Additionally, this new development would help extend the range, engagement, and damage while significantly reducing logistical costs.
With a flair for theatrics, China unleashed a new high-powered microwave (HPM) weapon upon the world named the Death Star. With its name inspired by the popular sci-fi franchise Star Wars, the HPM was first tested in 2024 by combining minute electromagnetic waves to create an enormous focused laser beam. According to Euro Weekly, the Death Star has an accuracy of at least 1,100 miles with an ability to incapacitate orbiting satellites, turning them into mere space junk. While other anti-satellite missiles pollute space, HPM does not leave behind a debris trail, thus rendering it impossible to trace. Additionally, as per SCMP reports, the HPM weapon is equipped with exceptional precision such that vehicles transmitting the beams can synchronise within 170 picoseconds. Scholars have speculated that the country would use the Death Star to target communication and navigation systems pertinent to missile guidance.
While China’s laser technology developments have raised concerns amongst Western players, the technological prowess it showcased during the Russia-Ukraine War is particularly noteworthy. Developed by the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, the Low Altitude Laser Defence System (LASS), better known as the Silent Hunter, made headlines when it shot down Kyiv’s drones, with its laser “piercing holes into a steel plate” before ultimately burning the Ukrainian drones. First unveiled during the G20 summit in Hangzhou, the weapon is specifically made to “search, track, blind and neutralise enemy drones.” The Silent Hunter possesses characteristics that set it apart from traditional aerial defence weapons. The power of the electric fibre optic laser ranges from 30 to 100 kilowatts with a target range of 4 kilometres. Additionally, its laser can penetrate five two-millimetre steel plates from a distance of 800 meters or one five-millimetre plate from 1 kilometre.
The Silent Hunter comes in two versions as well as four power modes. Accounting for better adaptability and ease of transportation, the weapon can either be mobile or stationary. This means that it can either be mounted on a 6X6 wheeled chassis or deconstructed into separate sections of approximately 200 kilograms. Additionally, the 5-kilowatt, 10-kilowatt, 20-kilowatt and 30-kilowatt power modes equip the Silent Hunter with a target capture of over 4 kilometres and an interception radius ranging from 200 metres to 400 metres. The LASS is also capable of neutralising a target with a speed less than 60 m/s and a diameter less than 2 metres. However, the major advantage of the Silent Hunter stems from its cost-effectiveness. It is estimated that the use of each system costs less than £10, distinguishing it from existing traditional missiles.
For the Chinese, 2025 is a year of advancement in laser technology, ranging from laser-based imaging systems to nuclear fusion through laser technology. Earlier this year, Chinese scientists disclosed a laser-based imaging system capable of reading minute texts as concise as one millimetre from approximately 1.4 kilometres away. By manoeuvring the method of active intensity interferometry, the imaging system overcomes externalities such as degraded resolution and atmosphere. Although the purpose of the innovation remains unclear, experts have raised concerns regarding its utilisation in surveillance, privacy and spying. However, some Chinese reports suggest that the usage of the laser would primarily pertain to archaeology and wildlife monitoring.
Mianyang, a city in the Sichuan province, became the centre of global attention with its development of nuclear fusion through laser technology. While details of the developments remain hidden from the public, if successful, it would modify the country’s nuclear capability. This particular technology, which intends to emulate the exothermic reaction of the Sun, may serve as a loophole to advance China’s nuclear weapon capabilities without explicitly violating international treaties. The advancements in Miyang are a leap forward in bridging the nuclear gap between China and the US. In terms of size, the Miyang facility dominates the National Ignition Facility of the United States and is furnished with a 50 per cent larger experimental bay, which could make it the largest laser fusion site in the world. This facility would allow the Chinese to improve weapons and conduct blasts without “real-world tests.”
Despite their technological advancements, the PRC has been accused of using its laser technology to harm US pilots. In 2018, China was accused of interfering with US military aircraft and injuring the pilots in the country’s overseas military base at Djibouti. Following this incident, America launched a formal diplomatic protest with Beijing as well as issued a notice to the US airmen. The notice stated “to exercise caution when flying in certain areas in Djibouti, which was issued due to lasers being directed at US aircraft on a small number of separate occasions over the last few weeks.” Furthermore, the notice described a particular incident when an aircrew flying a C-130 sustained two minor eye injuries due to exposure to military-grade laser beams. Military-grade laser beams, also known as dazzlers, emit potent light beams which can traverse vast distances and irradiate cockpits while momentarily blinding pilots. Again in 2020, the US Navy accused China of firing military-grade lasers at the P-8 Surveillance aircraft. The US Indo-Pacific Fleet issued a statement in which it condemned the actions of the PRC as “unsafe and unprofessional.” “Weapons-grade lasers could potentially cause serious harm to aircrew and marines, as well as ship and aircraft systems”, stated the Pacific Fleet.
Following this incident, the US undertook precautions to protect its airmen from the powerful laser technology of the Chinese. In 2023, the US Air Force purchased specially made laser protective eyewear after reported incidents of the Chinese military firing military grade laser beams at Western aeroplanes increased. As per the announcement made by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Centre’s Human Systems Division, the eyewear is supposed to provide protection against ballistic as well as laser threats. In the next three years, the US Air Force intends to acquire over 42,000 pairs of glasses and visors. The head of the eyewear initiative at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, Captain Pete Coats, expressed in a press briefing, “The health of the eye is so important to our pilots. The consequences of getting lasered without having proper protection could not only prevent the pilot from flying and landing an aircraft safely, but also cost them their career. So, we aim to ensure the right eyewear is available to everyone.”
China’s strides in laser technology development have long challenged the dominance of the West. Despite the scepticism around the validity and authenticity of China’s laser innovations, they have undoubtedly caused concern in the United States. As China moves forward with its plan to bridge the nuclear gap between itself and the US, these advancements not only signal a shift in technological leadership but also a recalibration of global power dynamics. From rectifying significant optimisation issues to creating high-powered lasers, China’s technological mission is methodical and efficient. However, while such developments have the ability to transform methods of modern warfare, they also contain the ability to evade accountability and jeopardise security. Given the pace and precision of such developments, the superpower has to be increasingly wary about the Asian giant. Their ability to outshine existing defence systems and develop modern equipment makes them a strategic threat that can no longer be sidelined.
