China has unveiled a portable anti-drone laser that can reportedly be carried in a backpack, marking another step in the race to stop cheap drones without firing expensive missiles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Lijian system, whose name means \u201csharp swords,\u201d was shown by Harbin Xinguang Optic-Electronics Technology at a Beijing defense technology expo, according to reporting from South China Morning Post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The headline figure is eye-catching. The lightest portable model weighs about 55 lbs., can reportedly reach drones up to 1,640 ft. away, burn through one in about four seconds, and cool down in less than five seconds before firing again. The bigger story may be what this kind of weapon does to the cost, logistics, and environmental footprint of modern air defense<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Lijian II and Lijian III are not magic wands. They are compact directed-energy systems made up of three main parts: a laser emitter, an air cooler, and a handheld control terminal. The Lijian II weighs about 66 lbs., 11 lbs. more than the Lijian III.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is still a serious load for a soldier. Anyone who has carried a full hiking pack knows 55 lbs. is not exactly light. Still, compared with vehicle-mounted or fixed laser systems, the idea is simple enough: move the beam closer to the threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Small drones<\/a> have become one of the most frustrating problems in modern warfare. They can scout, strike, harass, and force defenders to spend money fast. Do you really want to fire a missile worth far more than the drone it is chasing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is where lasers are attractive. They use electrical energy instead of bullets or missiles, which can make each shot much cheaper once the system is in place. The Royal Navy has said its DragonFire laser<\/a> can fire for about $13 per burst, compared with more than $1.3 million for a Sea Viper missile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At first glance, a laser sounds cleaner than conventional weapons. There are no shell casings flying, no interceptor motor burning through the sky, and no stockpile of one-time-use missiles disappearing with every shot. On the battlefield, that could mean less reliance on ammunition in some drone-defense situations<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is not a \u201cgreen weapon\u201d in any simple sense, however. A laser still burns a target, and that drone can still fall as debris. The environmental burden also moves somewhere else, into power generation, batteries, cooling systems, rare-earth materials<\/a>, manufacturing, maintenance, and the mining needed to keep those supply chains alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Directed-energy weapons have real limits. The U.S. Government Accountability Office says these systems can be less expensive per shot and may have nearly unlimited firing power when energy is available, but fog, storms, cooling needs, and range can reduce their effectiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA laser in a backpack<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Also Read: The UK is shrinking its DragonFire laser to arm a Type 45 destroyer by 2027, becoming the first NATO nation to fire one at sea<\/a><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Why drones changed the math<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The green promise is limited<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Power is the catch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n