One of russia's propaganda channels shared a video claiming to show "the first shots of a combat laser from a mobile air defense unit," allegedly used by the so-called Kochevnik special forces unit. russians talk about "new threats" that "forced them to look for alternative methods of counteraction." These methods include combat lasers designed to destroy unmanned aerial vehicles.
The published video is a compilation of various clips showcasing the new system. First, a vehicle covered with a camouflage net appears, which seems to be the combat laser installed on the armored vehicle.
Read more: Chinese Military Opens UAV Workshop, Starts Making Fiber-Optic Drones
Next come shots from inside the vehicle at the operator's station, showing toggle switches being flipped, footage of the radar itself being prepared for operation, and possibly its testing on an armored plate placed on the ground. Next, the laser system's working interface is demonstrated, specifically showing its operation against unmanned aerial vehicles. Finally, the drones allegedly shot down by the laser are shown.
The most interesting part is that russians admit the laser system shown in the video is a Chinese development called the Low-Altitude Laser Defense System, or LASS. The name Silent Hunter also appears online; it is an improved version of the LASS system with a power of 30 kW, available in both stationary and mobile variants. It was probably developed by the China Academy of Engineering Physics.
According to an infographic circulating on social media, the LASS laser system has an estimated power of 10–20 kW, a range of up to 1.5 km for destroying slow-moving small targets, and a laser operating time of about 10 seconds to engage a target. Targets can be "blinded" at a distance of up to three km.
The maximum operating time of the laser is 200 seconds. The system's radar can detect targets at distances ranging from 500 m to 5 km. System deployment time is less than five minutes. It is known that this type of laser has been spotted not only in China but also in Iran.
Earlier Defense Express reported about Ukrainian Tryzub laser and its detailed characteristics.
Read more: russians Attacked Ukraine with Missiles, UAVs: Air Defense Downed 69 Drones, 3 Cruise Missiles on Saturday Night
