Chinese Laser System Downs Drones in Gobi Desert Test

Dragon Media News Desk

A laser system from China’s “Guangjian” series brought down attack drones flying at low altitude from multiple directions during a test in a desert in northwest China, Chinese media reported. The system, developed by the AVIC Manufacturing Technology Institute, reportedly set the drones on fire and caused them to crash before they reached their target.

A report published Wednesday by Science and Technology Daily said the development team had worked to address challenges in producing specialized optical fibers, managing heat and accurately targeting drones. Zhou Shuiliang, a laboratory director at the institute, said an intelligent system had been developed to control production parameters during fiber drawing, improving efficiency and product quality.

Heat management was another challenge, as powerful, compact laser equipment can heat up quickly. Bai Zhen, a member of the research team, said the team had developed a paraffin-based material to absorb heat. During a test, the laser operated continuously for 30 minutes while maintaining a stable temperature, he said.

Military affairs expert Song Zhongping said laser weapons could engage small, low-flying targets such as drones at relatively low cost. He described them as a potential supplement to short-range air and missile defense systems.

Because laser beams travel at the speed of light, they can reach targets almost instantly at typical defense distances, giving the systems a rapid-response advantage, Song said. However, the beam must remain focused on a target long enough to cause sufficient damage. The types of targets a system can engage and the damage it can inflict depend on its power, he added.

In the test, the drones approached a target at low altitude from different directions. The report said laser strikes set them on fire and brought them down before they reached the target, demonstrating the system’s ability to respond to a complex aerial threat.