Chinese 'Drone Killer' Using Laser... Low-Cost, Silent Continuous Strikes

China Unveils 'LW-30' High-Power Laser Beam to Shoot Down Drones
Rising Military Threat from Drones... US and Europe Also Accelerate Technology Development

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] China has unveiled a laser weapon called the 'Drone Killer' capable of shooting down short-range target unmanned aerial vehicles (drones). According to the state-run Global Times on the 12th, China revealed the laser defense weapon system 'LW-30' at the 14th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition held in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province.

This weapon uses a high-power laser beam to shoot down incoming drones in a hard kill method. Hard kill is one way to neutralize drones by directly destroying them using machine guns, suicide drones, lasers, and other means. This method is gaining more attention as the military threat of drones has become a reality in wars and various terrorist attacks. Recently, countries around the world including the United States, Europe, and Israel have been focusing on developing this technology.

Last month, the U.S. General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) released footage of the 'Stryker Leonidas' system, which mounts a high-power electromagnetic (microwave) emitter on the Stryker armored vehicle. This system equips the U.S. Army's main wheeled armored vehicle, the Stryker, with the 'Epirus Leonidas' high-power microwave system. The 'Epirus Leonidas' emits powerful electromagnetic waves toward incoming drones to neutralize and bring them down. The U.S. Navy is also deploying laser weapons for drone interception on its vessels.

German company Rheinmetall has developed the 'Revolver Gun Mk3' 35mm anti-aircraft gun system capable of shooting down multiple swarm drones and has released footage showing the destruction of swarm drones. The Revolver Gun Mk3 is known to fire at a rate of 1,000 rounds per minute and can engage up to four targets simultaneously.

China's LW-30 was also created to respond to drone threats. It rapidly and quietly strikes small, slow, low-altitude drones flying at speeds around 200 km/h and altitudes below 1 km in continuous succession.

In particular, the LW-30 not only has higher strike efficiency compared to existing anti-aircraft weapons but also offers better cost-effectiveness than conventional strike means such as missiles. Additionally, it can perform independent combat missions or be integrated into traditional air defense weapon systems like surface-to-air missiles, according to the Global Times.