China Tests New LY-1 Laser Weapons System On Civilian RORO Vessel

China is experimenting with weapons at sea in new ways by utilising commercial vessels.

Images on social media showed its advanced laser system mounted on the deck of a civilian roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessel.

Though Beijing has not verified the images, the system’s presence is prompting questions about China’s testing ways and its military planning.

RORO ships are civilian cargo ships that carry vehicles using ramps rather than cranes.

The wide open decks have made them useful as auxiliary platforms during Chinese amphibious drills, including beach landings and equipment transport exercises.

Testing a laser system on a RORO ship would allow Beijing to test the weapon in real maritime conditions while leveraging a vessel type which is already a part of its military logistics network.

The LY-1 system can counter small aerial targets like drones, light helicopters, and loitering munitions.

This directed energy system fires a beam which can burn sensors, damage a ship’s control systems or destroy a drone.

This system is ideal for tackling small unmanned aircraft that threaten traditional ship defences.

China is expanding operations with a focus on successful maritime landings, with Taiwan being the most likely scenario.

A potential invasion would need the swift deployment of troops and the movement of vehicles across the Taiwan Strait, beyond China’s military fleet capacity.

In order to fill the gap, China has plans to mobilise dozens of commercial ships, including ferries and cargo vessels.

Safeguarding such ships from attacks would be vital, and an equipped RORO vessel could take up that role by handling unmanned systems.

Though this system offers benefits like silent operations, low-cost and highly precise, they also have limitations like adapting to all weather conditions, vessel motion, and adjusting to power supply.

By testing these systems onboard civilian ships first, engineers can study the performance of the system easily.

Moreover, China has shown its willingness to blur the line between civilian and military ships, by using the former in large numbers in military drills and exercises, including transporting troops and logistics operations.

Some vessels were even modified structurally to accommodate heavy military vehicles and equipment.

China has not issued any statement regarding the images and it is not clear if the test is a single trial or is a part of a more elaborate at-sea laser program.

Source: Maritime Shipping News