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3 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
'Silent Hunter': Has China armed Russia with a laser gun to shoot down drones?
Russia appears to be using a Chinese-origin laser weapon system to shoot down Ukrainian drones, according to video footage circulating on Russian Telegram channels. The laser, known as Silent Hunter, is allegedly operated by special forces and marks a new development in China's alleged role in the Ukraine war, despite Beijing's official denials of military aid read more The Silent Hunter, or LASS (Low-Altitude Laser Defending System), is a turret-mounted platform equipped with optical targeting sensors and a 30 kW laser. Image/X A series of pro-Russian Telegram videos and Ukrainian intelligence reports suggest that Russia may now be using a powerful Chinese-made laser weapon, the Silent Hunter, to shoot down Ukrainian drones on the battlefield. This development, if verified, could mark one of the most significant pieces of Chinese military technology deployed in the war so far, despite Beijing's continued claims of neutrality and denial of providing lethal aid to Moscow. What is the 'Silent Hunter' The laser system shown in recent footage features a turret-mounted platform emerging from a vehicle, with troops seen operating it from inside using joysticks and digital screens. The footage transitions to the laser piercing holes into a steel plate, and then shows Ukrainian drones catching fire and spiralling to the ground. Burnt drone parts are later displayed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The video, initially posted on the Military Information Telegram channel, was widely shared on platforms and shows what military analysts say closely resembles the Low-Altitude Laser Defending System (LASS), also referred to as Silent Hunter. 🇷🇺📹 Russian sources have released footage showing the use of the Chinese Low-Altitude Laser Defending System (LASS) to shoot down Ukrainian drones in the combat zone. These appear to be the first documented visuals of the Chinese laser system in operational use in Ukraine. — NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) May 31, 2025 This system was developed by the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, a state-owned enterprise. First fielded during the 2016 G20 summit in Hangzhou, it is designed to search, track, blind, and neutralise enemy drones. The weapon is mounted on a vehicle, typically an SUV, allowing for high mobility. Its upgraded version, reportedly revealed in 2024, expanded its effective engagement range: capable of detecting aerial targets up to 3.1 miles away, blinding them at 2 miles, and destroying them at 1 mile. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The 'soft kill' or blinding range was extended to 6.2 miles, while the 'hard kill' or destruction range was pushed to 3.7 miles. It operates with a 30-kilowatt laser capable of piercing a 5mm-thick steel plate at a distance of 1,000 metres, and it takes approximately eight seconds to lock onto and neutralise a target. Cost-effectiveness is one of its major advantages, as each use of the system is estimated to cost less than £10 — a fraction of the price of conventional missiles like Britain's Sea Viper, which can cost up to £1 million, reported The Eurasian Times. Is there evidence of its deployment in the Russia-Ukraine war? According to Ukraine's Vodohrai Telegram channel, the drones shown in the video included a Shchedryk-type UAV, a Skywalker X8 and a decoy drone known as the Distractor. Ukraine's Militarnyi news outlet assessed that these drones were engaged from distances greater than 0.8 miles, suggesting operational use well within the Silent Hunter's claimed range. Ukrainian military sources also assert that the system is currently being operated by a mobile air defence unit from the Kochevnik special operations group, and has been deployed since at least October. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Separate pro-Russian sources have identified the team as the Nomad special forces squad. Analysts who reviewed the video noted a strong resemblance between the system seen in Russia and earlier sightings of similar Chinese systems in Iran and Saudi Arabia. In 2024, a Silent Hunter unit was spotted in Tehran during a public sermon by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reported The Telegraph. Saudi Arabia has reportedly deployed the system against reconnaissance UAVs used by Houthi militants in Yemen, who themselves rely on Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones — the same model used by Russia in Ukraine. Military commentators in Russia now argue that recent combat use has overturned the earlier domestic scepticism about laser weapons. The Military Informant Telegram channel wrote, 'Previously, there was an opinion in the domestic information environment that combat lasers were useless and expensive toys… However, new threats identified during the full-on invasion of Ukraine forced the search for alternative methods of counteraction. Thanks to the development of new technologies, laser systems have become an effective tool for the destruction of Ukrainian UAVs.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Where does that leave China? Despite the mounting evidence, Beijing has repeatedly denied providing lethal aid to Russia. Its Ministry of Foreign Affairs insists that 'China has never provided lethal weapons to any party to the conflict' and that it 'strictly controls dual-use items.' China's denials have done little to quell accusations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated, 'Russia's involvement of China, along with other countries, whether directly or indirectly, in this war in Europe is a clear signal that Putin intends to do anything but end the war. He is looking for ways to continue fighting.' Zelenskyy has also accused China of supplying Russia with weaponry and gunpowder. Reports had also emerged in April that two Chinese soldiers were captured in Ukraine fighting alongside Russian forces. While Western intelligence services noted that it was unlikely these soldiers were sent officially by Beijing, it remains a troubling sign. Russia is known to recruit foreign nationals through informal and irregular channels. The head of Ukraine's intelligence service, Oleh Ivashchenko, added in May that the country could 'confirm' the presence of Chinese-made materials in at least 20 Russian military factories, reported The Eurasian Times. According to Ukrainian intelligence, around 80 per cent of the electronics in Russian drones now originate from China — a claim also echoed by the US State Department, which has stated, 'China is a major enabler of Russia in the war in Ukraine. China provides nearly 80 per cent of the dual-use items Russia needs to sustain the war.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Does Russia have a similar laser weapon? Prior to the suspected deployment of the Chinese laser system, Russia had already developed its own laser weaponry, including the Persevet and Zadira systems. However, there has been little public documentation of their deployment in active combat scenarios. In August 2023, Russia's state media outlet RIA Novosti reported successful field tests of an unnamed laser gun, which allegedly destroyed a number of drones. While this was framed as a breakthrough, no video evidence or operational reports have since emerged. Earlier this year, Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov revealed that the Pantsir air defence system would soon be upgraded to include a laser complex. This modernisation push reflects Russia's interest in integrating energy weapons into its broader defence network, particularly as drones continue to play a central role in Ukraine's resistance efforts. Still, despite these domestic efforts, the recent visual evidence of a Chinese laser system being actively used on the front lines raises questions about whether Russian-made alternatives have proven inadequate or delayed. There has been a shift to laser weapons as they offer several advantages over traditional missile-based systems. They are cost-effective, can be deployed repeatedly without reloading, and can destroy aerial threats with minimal collateral damage. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD These characteristics make them ideal for the high-volume drone threats seen in current conflict zones. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chinese Laser Weapon Is Claimed To Be In Russian Service
Russia is using a new Chinese laser system to shoot down Ukrainian drones, according to pro-Russian Telegram channels. The system seen in a video posted to Telegram on Thursday appears to be at least extremely similar to a system Beijing has apparently already provided to Iran, which you can read more about here. The video, posted on the Military Information Telegram channel, opens with scenes of troops inside a vehicle, flicking switches and looking at heavily pixelated screens. The next scene shows the system rising out of the vehicle and then being rotated by a soldier in the vehicle using a joystick. It then cuts to small fiery holes being burned into a metal plate. A subsequent view shows the plate with four holes burned through it, apparently created by the laser. Russian sources have released footage showing the use of the Chinese Low-Altitude Laser Defending System (LASS) to shoot down Ukrainian drones in the combat appear to be the first documented visuals of the Chinese laser system in operational use in Ukraine. — NOELREPORTS (@NOELreports) May 31, 2025 The next scene shows several screens, with one displaying video of a drone catching fire and spinning out of control, with the implication that the damage was caused by the laser system. A second drone is shown being hit by what appears to be the laser. The video ends with recovered drone segments with burn marks that could be indicative of a laser engagement. While we can't say for certain what system this is, or where or when the video was taken, as noted earlier, it is very similar to a system China apparently provided to Iran. From our previous story about that: '…it has a single large aperture on the left side. In addition, there is an aperture with a more squared-off shape on the right side….A similar, if not identical arrangement is visible in Chinese marketing literature for another counter-drone laser weapon called the Shen Nung (also transliterated Shennong). Containerized and 4×4 Dongfeng Mengshi light tactical truck-mounted versions of the Shen Nung – the Shen Nung 5000 and 3000, respectively – have at least been pitched in the past. The pictures reportedly taken in Tehran last week show the system behind a blue tarp screen, but what is visible could point to a containerized variant.' This is a conclusion also drawn by Fabian Hinz, a Research Fellow Defense and Military Analysis at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. 'While the sensor arrangement seems to have been altered, the system observed in Russian service strongly resembles the Chinese Shen Nung 3000/5000 anti-drone laser,' Hinz noted on X. While the sensor arrangement seems to have been altered, the system observed in Russian service strongly resembles the Chinese Shen Nung 3000/5000 anti-drone laser. — Fabian Hinz (@fab_hinz) May 31, 2025 Russian Telegram channels claim the system is already in use by the Nomad special forces unit and is a great improvement over earlier counter-drone laser designs. 'Previously, there was an opinion in the domestic information environment that combat lasers were useless and expensive toys,' wrote the Military Informant Telegram channel, which on Thursday was the first to publish the video. 'However, new threats identified during [the full-on invasion of Ukraine] forced the search for alternative methods of counteraction. Thanks to the development of new technologies, laser systems have become an effective tool for the destruction of Ukrainian UAVs.' 'It remains to be hoped that the topic of developing laser weapons in Russia will receive new impetus, and the experience of using lasers as air defense weapons will be scaled up throughout the country,' the channel added. While Military Information did not explain what kind of system it was, the editor of a Russian military-themed magazine identified it as 'the Chinese Low-Altitude Laser Defending System (LASS).' It is used, 'among others, by the People's Armed Police of the People's Republic of China,' wrote Kornev Dmitry, editor of the NOZS magazine and the website. 'The developer and manufacturer of LASS is probably the Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics.' Though we don't know many details about this system, it certainly is not the first laser directed energy weapon to be used in combat against drones. Earlier this week, Israeli officials disclosed that Jerusalem has used a new air defense laser to shoot down Hezbollah drones in the current conflict in the Middle East. As we noted in our story: 'What is described as an adapted version of the Iron Beam system made its combat debut last October, and the definitive version should be fielded by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) later this year, joining an already formidable, layered air defense network, something you can read about in more detail here.' The use of the Iron Beam — also known by its Hebrew name Magen Or — was announced by the IDF, Israeli Air Force (IAF), and defense contractor Rafael, in a joint statement. These three organizations, it is said, 'executed an accelerated development program to deploy revolutionary interception systems,' as part of an effort that also involved Israel's Directorate of Defense Research and Development. You can see that system in the video below. A World First — Combat-Proven Laser Defense, Powered by RafaelFor the first time in history, high-power laser systems have been used to intercept aerial threats in unprecedented breakthrough took place during the Swords of Iron War — with Rafael's advanced… — Rafael Advanced Defense Systems (@RAFAELdefense) May 28, 2025 The U.S. has similar lasers deployed in small numbers to forward locations and vessels for early operational use and evaluation. Multiple countries are working on developing similar systems. Although progress is being made on adapting laser weapons to operational military use, it has been far slower than many had predicted, including the Department of Defense. These systems also have key limitations in terms of their range and environmental factors significantly impacting their performance. Thermal limitations can also limit their engagement efficacy against multiple targets. They also use relatively delicate components that have to be hardened to the rigors of forward operations, often in remote locales, with limited external support. While there is still much we don't know about the system that emerged on social media, the fact that Iran has likely fielded a Chinese system that closely resembles is a sign that it is on the market. Russia, China and Iran have growing relations as they seek to challenge the United States and its allies on the world stage. Both China and Iran have provided weapons or supporting technologies to Russia in its fight against Ukraine. Contact the author: howard@
