China to Use Lasers to Combat Terrorist Drone Attacks During "Major Events in Urban Areas"
Why China is using lasers to take down drones
November 4, 2014The "homemade laser defense system" specifically targets small-scale drones flying at a low altitude – the likely choice of terrorists, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
Yi said these cheap and easy-to-use drones are feasible weapons for terrorists."Characterized by its speed, precision and low noise, the system is designed to destroy unmanned, small-scale drones flying within an altitude of 500 m and at a speed below 50 m/s," Xinhua said, citing the statement."Intercepting such drones is usually the work of snipers and helicopters, but their success rate is not as high and mistakes with accuracy can result in unwanted damage," said Yi Jinsong, a manager with China Jiuyuan Hi-Tech Equipment Corp., a group under the academy spearheading the project, according to the report.
The US military successfully tracked and brought down a surveillance drone using a similar device in 2012, and laser-based weapons have become a standard line of defense against drones since, the Verge pointed out."China typically deploys tight security for domestic political meetings, international conferences and sports events, looking to prevent public protests over issues such as illegal land seizures and corruption as well as any threats to the participants," the Guardian noted.
Last year, the US Army successfully tested a truck-mounted laser to stop mortars and drones, destroying targets in low-level midair explosions, preventing them from exploding on the ground."By training a high-energy beam on the craft for long enough, the weapons are able to burn through the crafts in mid-air, and they are small enough to mount on a truck. The attack requires sustained contact with the target, making it ideal for less maneuverable aircraft like the predator drone, although similar attacks have also been proposed for destroying missiles before they reach their intended target."
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