Laser Weapon Appears On Chinese Amphibious Assault Ship
20th August 2024
China appears to have installed a laser directed energy weapon on one of its Type 071 amphibious assault ships, mirroring U.S. and other nations’ expanding activities in the same arena. Recent actions against Houthi drones in the Red Sea have helped to spur further interest in fitting warships with directed energy weapons of various types, although most of China’s activities with laser weapons have, so far, been conducted on land.
A photo that recently appeared on social media shows an apparently newly installed laser weapon on a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Type 071 amphibious transport dock, the vessel having reportedly just emerged from a refit. The system is mounted immediately aft of the 76mm dual-purpose gun on the ship’s bow. When not in use, the weapon is concealed under a relatively large dome-like cover.