Why did China install the "Liaoyuan" laser weapon on the 071 amphibious ship instead of the 055?

Recently, the Chinese Navy has publicly demonstrated its latest technological breakthrough: successfully installing the "Liaoyuan-1" shipboard laser weapon system on the domestically produced 071-type amphibious ship "Siming Mountain" (986 ship).

This move has overturned the public's expectations about the Chinese Navy's deployment of laser weapons. Compared to the more advanced 055-class destroyers, why is the 071-type amphibious ship the first to carry this cutting-edge weapon? The answer lies in the perfect combination of strategic needs and technical compatibility.

Why are amphibious ships the preferred choice?

In modern naval warfare, amphibious ships are considered prime targets for enemy attacks due to their high strategic value and relatively weak defensive capabilities. Especially during amphibious landing operations, these ships operate in coastal areas and face threats from drone swarms, anti-ship missiles, and high-speed penetration targets.

Although other warships provide protection, the terminal defense capability of amphibious ships remains a weakness. Installing the "Liaoyuan-1" laser weapon system can significantly enhance its self-defense capability, forming a multi-layered air defense network with the HQ-9C long-range missiles and the HHQ-16C medium-range interception system, greatly enhancing its survivability.

Additionally, the large displacement (approximately 25,000 tons) and spacious internal space of the 071-type amphibious ship provide ideal conditions for installing high-power laser weapons. The "Liaoyuan-1" system is installed behind the 76mm main gun on the forward deck and below the bridge platform, featuring a semi-spherical shell design that is normally closed to protect the equipment and opened during combat to carry out strikes.

In contrast, the 055-class destroyers, although technologically advanced, have a compact hull design and existing close-in weapon system layout, which may require a complete redesign to accommodate such a large laser weapon system.

"Liaoyuan-1": A Breakthrough in Technical Performance

The "Liaoyuan-1" laser weapon system was first publicly displayed during the September 3rd military parade in 2025, and its technical and operational performance is impressive. According to public reports and speculation, the system has the following outstanding features:

High power and long range: The power may reach up to 300 kilowatts, far exceeding the 60-kilowatt "Helios" system carried by the U.S. "Arleigh Burke"-class destroyers. The interception range reaches 10-20 kilometers, effectively dealing with nearby high-speed targets.

High precision and strong destructive power: It uses neodymium-chromium-erbium solid gain medium and adaptive optics system, keeping the beam divergence angle within 0.3 milliradians. Simulation exercises show that it can melt the guidance head of a supersonic anti-ship missile within 5 seconds, demonstrating extremely strong destructive power.

Low cost and "infinite ammunition": The cost per interception is only about $1, far lower than traditional short-range air defense missiles. Relying on the ship's power supply system, it theoretically achieves "infinite ammunition," especially suitable for countering drone swarms and saturation attacks.

Multi-mode combat capability: It supports both hard kill (directly vaporizing the target or detonating internal explosives) and soft kill (blinding optical sensors or interfering with guidance systems) modes, working in coordination with other air defense systems to form a layered defense.

All-weather adaptability: Adaptive optics technology reduces the impact of environmental factors such as rain, fog, and sandstorms, maintaining a hit rate of over 90%, significantly better than traditional weapons.

Strategic Significance and Future Prospects

Currently, the Chinese Navy has 8 071-type amphibious ships, with 5 deployed in the Southern Theater Navy and 3 in the Eastern Theater Navy. These ships all have the potential to be upgraded with the "Liaoyuan-1", marking a significant improvement in the Chinese Navy's amphibious operation air defense and missile interception capabilities.

In contrast, the deployment of laser weapons on 055-class destroyers may take longer to optimize the design. The early upgrade of the 071-type amphibious ships undoubtedly provides valuable practical experience for the Chinese Navy.

The deployment of the "Liaoyuan-1" not only enhances the survival capability of the amphibious ship but also accumulates technical data for the Chinese Navy's exploration of the shipborne application of laser weapons.

In the future, as laser weapon technology continues to mature, similar systems are expected to be widely adopted on more warships, taking the Chinese Navy's comprehensive combat capabilities to a new level.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7558103067577647666/

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