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Reports from Chinese Social Media show that the Chinese Military has started testing a Laser Directed Energy Weapon onboard one of their biggest Vessels, a Type 071 Amphibious Transport Dock. Pictures show that the Weapon is located on a raised Platform just behind the Main Gun on the Bow of the Vessel.
It is housed on a Dome Cover that can be retracted before the Weapon is used. Not much is known about it yet, but it is believed that is very similar to the Laser Weapon System Demonstrator (LWSD) Mark 2 Mod 0 that the United States (US) is also now testing on a Ship.
If so, then the Chinese Weapon could have a Power Output of 150 kW and will be used primarily to destroy Air and Water-based Drones. It likely also will be used to temporary or even permanently blind Electro-Optical (EO) Sensors used on other Vessels and Aircraft.
The System likely also has a powerful EO System of its own that is used for targeting, but also can be used for Surveillance Activities.
Many major Countries around the World are now hurrying to test and deploy their own Laser Weapon Systems onboard their Naval Vessels based on the Lessons learned in the ongoing Red Sea Crisis where the Houthis are using cheap Drones, and western Navies are forced to use much more expensive Missiles to destroy them.
Laser Weapons have a very cheap cost per shot which makes them more cost-effective in Terms of shooting down cheap Drones. The United States Navy (USN) for example says that another Laser Weapon they are also testing, the AN/SEQ-4 Optical Dazzling Interdictor, Navy (ODIN) System. costs only Usd 1.15 per shot.
The Type 071 Vessel that China is testing their Laser Weapon on is a large Vessel, it is 210 m long, has a Displacement of 25,000 tons, and can carry up to 800 Troops, 60 Vehicles and four Heavy Transport Helicopters. If the Laser System proves to be effective in its current Tests, it could end up being deployed on many of China's other Navy Vessels also.
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| China starts testing Laser Weapon on their Type 071 Vessel |
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