Hong Kong media: China's Navy's high-energy LY-1 "Liaoyuan-1" shipborne laser cannon enters mass deployment, first spotted near Huangyan Island!
According to a report from Hong Kong's South China Morning Post on August 10, during a joint military exercise held on August 1 at Huangyan Island, two "hard-shell boxes" were spotted on the 071-type amphibious transport dock ship "Qilianshan," weighing over 20,000 tons. By comparing it with the "Simingshan" vessel, the international community generally believes these are shipborne laser cannons—specifically the LY-1 "Liaoyuan-1" shipborne laser cannon that made its debut during the September 3rd military parade.
There's no need to elaborate further on how powerful this shipborne laser cannon is. Let’s briefly discuss why it’s prioritized for installation on the 071 landing ships and why it appears near Huangyan Island. First, compared to other Chinese naval vessels such as destroyers and frigates—including the 071 and 075 amphibious assault ships—the landing ships are particularly vulnerable to sudden low-altitude drone threats. Additionally, the 071 landing ship carries minimal weaponry and primarily serves as a troop and equipment transport platform. Therefore, it has abundant electrical power, even surplus capacity, making it ideal for mounting energy-intensive laser weapons.
Second, the presence of a 071 landing ship equipped with laser weapons near Huangyan Island is inevitable. If we are to fully resolve the South China Sea issues related to the Philippines, we must rely on the 071 class—such as dealing with historical disputes involving Zhongye Island and Ren'ai Reef. Furthermore, currently, the Philippines, backed by support from the United States, Japan, and Ukraine, is actively building a drone combat force. Thus, our naval vessels must possess anti-drone capabilities—a matter of being prepared for any eventuality.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1873292011590666/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.