Chinese Laser Weapons Now Defending Russia Against Ukrainian Drone Strikes: How Capable is the Silent Hunter 3000?

<p >Footage released by Russian media outlets has shown the procurement of the Chinese-made Silent Hunter 3000 laser system for use by the country’s armed forces. The system is reported to be deployed by the OSpN Kochevnik special operations group, and was shown concealed under camouflage netting, before being activated and neutralising a hostile reconnaissance drone. The Silent Hunter is a turret-mounted system 30 kW laser weapon with optical targeting sensors, and is reported to have been developed by the Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics. It has a targeting range of 1.5 kilometres, but can be used to blind enemy sensor up to 3 kilometres away as a secondary function. Laser weapons systems are considered optimal for countering threats from low speed drones, with the increasingly <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/capacity-500-shahed-attacks-russia-expanding-production" target="_blank">central role</a> that such aircraft are playing in the Ukrainian theatre having stimulated interest across much of the world in the use of directed energy weapons for air defence. </p><p >Western personnel, contractors, defence manufactures, satellite networks and surveillance assets have played key roles in <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/britain-france-central-role-facilitating-ukrainian-attack-energy-infrastructure" >facilitating</a> Ukrainian long range attacks on Russian targets using both drones and ballistic missiles. Attacks using swarms of low cost drones have proven particularly difficult to counter, and have been used to engage targets ranging from residential buildings in Moscow, to major radar installations, and even <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/ukraine-70-drones-strike-su34-base" >airbases hosting</a> Russian fighters and bombers. After the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched multiple successful strikes on Russian targets including the capital Moscow in early-mid 2023, CEO of the Rostec state owned defence conglomerate Sergey Chemezov stated on August 7, 2023, that work was underway to <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russia-air-defence-challenge-low-speed-drones" >develop</a> superior means of detecting small low speed drones, which had proven capable of evading air defences. Procurements of directed energy weapons from China are expected to continue to provide a leading means of countering this emerging threat.</p>