This morning, reports out of China’s Xinhua news agency indicate the nation has developed a short-range laser system capable of targeting and shooting down low-flying drones. The concept is akin to President Reagan’s Star Wars initiative in the 1980s, which would position missile-blasting satellites within Earth’s orbit. China’s system is a little less ambitious. It is only able to take down small aircraft flying as high as 500 meters (1640 feet) and as fast as 50 meters/second (112 MPH). It also only has a range of two kilometers (approximately 1.25 miles). However, once the system locks onto a target, it can apparently take it out of the sky within five seconds.
According to Xinhua, the system will deter invasive, unlicensed geographical mapping and “play a key role in ensuring security during major events in urban areas.” China is increasingly becoming an economic superpower with a gross domestic product (GDP) following a trend upwards of $9.24 trillion USD last year. In addition, the country boasts a population of 1.357 billion people. Needless to say, terrorist threats are a growing concern. Security at such events (e.g. conferences, sporting events, etc.) could typically be described “tight” to deter large-scale public protests such as Hong Kong’s Umbrella Movement. However, spotting and intercepting drones is a burden typically left to well-trained snipers and expensive helicopters. Eventually, the ground-to-air laser system–which is understood to be the size of a small box–may be fitted to vehicles to provide safe convoy.
The system was developed by government defense agency China Academy of Engineering Physics, who acknowledges the laser is intended to intercept the kinds of inexpensive, small, and privately owned drones on the market today. In other words, the kinds a terrorist organization may be able to easily get their hands on. The United States uses drones, albeit larger and more sophisticated, to carryout unmanned airstrikes on identified terrorist leaders including members of the Islamic State (aka ISIS, ISIL) in various Middle Eastern countries such as Yemen and Pakistan. The U.S. Navy is also developing a laser weapon of their own to be mounted on warships.
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