China develops laser system against drones

BEIJING—Chinese engineers have successfully tested a laser weapon that can shoot down low-flying, slow-moving drones, state media reported Tuesday.

The Low Altitude Sentinel system can detect a small aircraft within a two-kilometer (1.2-mile) radius and shoot it down within five seconds, the English-language newspaper China Daily said, citing a statement from the China Academy of Engineering Physics.

The system is designed to destroy small drones flying below 500 meters (1,600 feet) at a speed less than 180 kilometers per hour (110 mph), the China Daily said.

The system could be installed in vehicles and help guard against flying objects during major events in urban areas, the China’s Xinhua News Agency said.

Laser weapons are being pursued by several countries, including the United States, which has deployed a prototype laser on a navy ship that would defend against drones and small aircraft.

Such weapons run on electricity and have been billed as lower-cost alternatives to missiles. Also, unlike missiles, laser weapons can be fired continuously.