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Laser weapon spotted on China amphibious ship near South China Sea

Analysts said the move would strengthen near-shore defenses against unmanned aerial or surface drones during operations close to an adversary.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Trade & Tariffs

China’s most advanced laser weapon has been spotted aboard a Type 071 amphibious landing ship operating in the South China Sea, a development analysts said could expand near-shore anti-drone capabilities for a class of vessels used in potentially sensitive waters.

According to SCMP Economy, the weapon was seen during a People’s Liberation Army joint air and naval drill at Scarborough Shoal, also known as Huangyan Island, on August 1, with CCTV footage showing a rectangular object behind the ship’s 76mm dual-purpose gun.

The report said Lu, an analyst quoted by SCMP Economy, argued amphibious ships may need high-energy weapons once they operate closer to an opponent’s near-shore areas because unmanned aerial or surface drones can pose a threat, making the capability more important than on some other warship types.

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