Yesterday, a series of new images published on social media caught the attention of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) specialists. These images show an amphibious assault ship belonging to the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) equipped with a new laser weapon. Specifically, it appears to be the Type 071 ship “Siming Shan” (hull number 986), which already had a 76mm multi-purpose gun on the bow.
According to the images, the new system is installed behind the mentioned gun and is covered by what seems to be a retractable dome to protect it when not in use. It should be noted that the ship is docked in port alongside its sister vessel, the “Yimeng Shan” (988), which has not been equipped with the new laser weapon. It is likely that the system is still being tested before its installation on other warships, considering that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army already has land-based versions in use.
It is worth remembering that the Type 071 amphibious assault ships were the largest amphibious vessels in the PLAN fleets, displacing a total of 25,000 tons, until the recent appearance of the Type 075 amphibious helicopter carrier took their place. Each Type 071 unit features a hangar capable of accommodating up to four heavy Z-8 helicopters, which can take off from a deck located at the stern of the ship. These capabilities are complemented by the ability to deploy up to four fast boats and sixty armored vehicles, as well as space to accommodate up to 800 marines.
Regarding the laser system mentioned, there are no known details beyond the mentioned cover, so assumptions can only be made in comparison with similar developments by the United States and the United Kingdom, which also have high levels of secrecy.
In the first case, there are currently two main developments being tested by the United States Navy: the “LWSD Mk 2 Mod 0” (installed on the San Antonio-class ship USS Portland) and the “HELIOS” system (tested from an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, the USS Preble). Both systems were initially designed to target drones and small boats, though they differ in terms of the power they can generate; while the former generates 150 kilowatts, HELIOS generates nearly half that (60 kilowatts). A third system, the AN/SEQ-3 (LaWS), was tested on the USS Ponce during its deployment between 2014 and 2017 but appears to have been sidelined due to its lower power of just 30 kilowatts.
In the case of the United Kingdom, the Royal Navy has the “DragonFire” system, which has been under development for nearly a decade. After recent advancements in its testing, it is expected to be integrated into destroyers and frigates starting in 2027 for similar purposes. If this occurs, the capabilities of this system would complement the Sea Viper and Sea Ceptor systems currently installed, whose effectiveness was demonstrated in recent missions in the Middle East.
Finally, regarding the Asian giant’s developments in laser weapons installed on its ships, it should be noted that the Chinese Navy already possesses lower-capacity systems used for disrupting enemy sensor platforms. Considering this, it is worth noting that the navies mentioned earlier have followed similar paths; developing a laser that performs these functions has been a preliminary step before advancing to more powerful weapons capable of neutralizing the enemy, rather than just temporarily blinding them. In the absence of further details, the weapon installed on the Type 071 “Siming Shan” could be considered a step in that direction.
Image credits to whom they may concern
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