Silent Hunter (laser weapon)

The Silent Hunter is an anti-drone laser weapon developed in China by Poly Technologies. It is an improved version of the 30 kilowatt Low-Altitude Laser Defending System (LASS) and is available in both fixed and mobile versions.

Specifications

The Silent Hunter uses an electrically powered fiber optic laser and according to one Poly official, has a maximum power that is between 30 and 100 kilowatts and a maximum range of four kilometers.[1] Although it is primarily designed to search, track, and destroy low-flying drones, it is powerful enough to "ablate" or penetrate five 2 millimeter steel plates at a range of 800 meters or a single 5 millimeter steel plate at 1000 meters.[2] The sheer bulk of the Silent Hunter prevents its use on an aerial platform.[3]

Operational History

A Poly official claimed that the Silent Hunter was used to safe guard the September 2016 G-20 Summit in Hangzhou, China.[4]

International Exhibition

The Silent Hunter was first unveiled at the 2017 IDEX show in Abu Dhabi.[5] It was again showcased at the International Exhibition of Weapons Systems and Military Equipment (KADEX) in Kazakhstan in 2018.[6]

See also

  • ZKZM-500, a handheld laser weapon designed by the PRC.

References

  1. ↑ "China develops deadly 'Silent Hunter' lasers that can destroy drones from 1,000ft away as tensions soar with the US". Daily Mail. June 1, 2018.
  2. ↑ Richard D. Fisher, Jr. (February 23, 2017). "China's Progress with Directed Energy Weapons" (PDF). p. 8. A Poly video showed this laser could 'ablate' or penetrate five 2 millimeter steel plates at a range of 800 meters, and an official stated it could penetrate 5 millimeters of steel at 1,000 meters.
  3. ↑ Richard D. Fisher, Jr. (February 23, 2017). "China's Progress with Directed Energy Weapons" (PDF). p. 8. Poly officials stated they are working on more powerful versions, but that its size prevented an airborne version of Silent Hunter.
  4. ↑ "China-made laser air defense system exhibited in Middle East". China Military. February 24, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Drones, lasers, and tanks: China shows off its latest weapons". Popular Science. June 1, 2018.
  6. ↑ "'SILENT HUNTER' - Chinese laser gun DOWNS drone from 300 metres away". Express. June 1, 2018.
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