Recently, a big news has caused a stir in the military fan circle: the No. 985 "Qilian Mountain" ship has been equipped with a laser weapon and made its debut! This is already the second 071-type landing ship to be equipped with the "Liaoyuan-1" high-energy laser. Just a while ago, the No. 986 "Siming Mountain" ship had just appeared, and now it's being mass-produced?

It's worth noting that this thing was still in the experimental stage last year, but now it's actually deployed, which is fast enough to feel "science fiction". But there's a question that many people probably can't figure out: our 052D, 055 main destroyers are so powerful, why not use them first, but instead equip the landing ships with laser weapons? There's a big plan behind it from the navy.

First, clarify the core issue: what does a laser weapon most require? Space + power!

Don't be deceived by the scenes in movies where you just wave your hand and hit a target. In reality, high-energy laser weapons are not small parts; they are a "space-eating, power-hungry" monster. Let's start with the base of the 071 landing ship. The displacement of this ship is as much as 25,000 tons. What's the concept?

It's equivalent to more than three 052D destroyers, with internal space large enough to fit tanks and armored vehicles, and plenty of room for energy storage equipment and cooling systems for the laser weapons.

Looking at the situation of the main destroyers is awkward. The 052D only weighs 7,500 tons, and the 055 is the largest with 12,000 tons. The ship is already full of treasures: phased array radar takes up space, dozens of vertical launch missiles take up space, and the remaining space is already tight.

More importantly, the electricity: the "Liaoyuan-1" is estimated to have a power of 200-300 kilowatts, five times that of the American counterpart "Helios"! Such a high power requires dedicated power generation equipment to continuously supply energy, and also needs a cooling system to cool down, otherwise it will "overheat" after firing a few shots.

The 071 uses large diesel power generation units, which run steadily and provide stable power. However, destroyers need to move at high speed, and the power system and electrical system compete for resources. If the laser is fired when the ship needs to accelerate, the power may not be sufficient. You can't let the warship "stop to fire", right?

Selecting the landing ship is not just for numbers: it's precisely filling the most critical weakness.

Some people might think that equipping the landing ship with a laser is "overkill," but in fact, it's the opposite, it's a precise positioning. What's the original self-defense capability of the 071? It just relies on four AK-630 close-in defense cannons to maintain the scene, which is already difficult to deal with low-altitude slow targets.

While the core mission of the landing ship is to land on the beach, when it gets close to the coast, it is most likely to be attacked by suicide drones and loitering missiles in a "swarm attack." A group of small targets come in thick and fast, and traditional close-in defense cannons can't handle it.

Why can't they handle it? First, the ammunition is limited, and after firing dozens of rounds, it's empty. Second, the cost is too high, one anti-aircraft missile costs tens of thousands of dollars, and it's pure "using gold to smash pebbles" to shoot a drone that costs only a few thousand yuan. But laser weapons don't have this problem: as long as there is electricity, it can keep firing, equivalent to an "infinite magazine"; and the cost per interception is only a few dozen yuan, and you don't mind shooting as many as you want. It's like a custom-made solution for dealing with "swarms."

Destroyers are not unwilling to install, but are waiting for the "next-generation platform."

It's not that our 052D and 055 are not advanced enough, but the "先天 conditions" are limited. At the time of the design of the current main destroyers, they never considered installing such a high-power laser weapon. The space and electricity were reserved according to the weapon configuration at that time. Forcing the installation would lead to trade-offs. Either remove some vertical launchers or weaken the radar performance, which is clearly not cost-effective.

This also explains why we are planning a 20,000-ton "strategic ship," whose core is to leave enough space and power redundancy, specifically adapted for laser weapons and other directed energy weapons. There are even reports that the demand for nuclear-powered warships is becoming increasingly urgent, because nuclear power can provide almost unlimited power. Not only can it handle hundreds of kilowatts now, but it can also handle megawatt-level laser weapons in the future, allowing us to truly achieve "light shield defense."

From the test ship to the mass modification of two 071s, we are taking a "from large to small" approach: first verify the technology and form combat effectiveness on the landing ships with ample space and less pressure, solving the "whether there is" issue; while accumulating experience in miniaturization and generalization, and when the next generation of large platforms emerge, directly transplant them onto cruisers.

This step is quite practical, and it contains forward-looking layout: on one hand, the ability of the amphibious fleet to resist saturation attacks is directly maximized, making amphibious operations more secure; on the other hand, the vehicle-mounted version of "Liaoyuan-1" also reserves a modification interface for civilian roll-on/roll-off ships, and during wartime, several roll-on/roll-off ships can be requisitioned to be converted into temporary "laser defense ships," showing a brilliant idea of military-civilian integration.

Compared with the United States, it's even more obvious. They are still struggling with the power distribution of the Arleigh Burke III destroyers, while we have already verified the practical value of laser weapons on the 071. This seemingly circuitous path is actually the shortest. First solve the current needs, then drive the development of the next generation of equipment, step by step moving towards the era of "nuclear-powered, giant ships, and directed energy."

So don't get bogged down about why the landing ships were modified first. What's hidden behind it is the strategic ambition and pragmatic wisdom of the Chinese Navy.

Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7573628568278778378/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author. Please express your opinion by clicking the [Up/Down] buttons below.