China's Military Parade to Showcase Advanced Laser Technology and Strategic Significance

Strategic Insights -

China's military parade will feature advanced laser air defense systems, new anti-ship missiles, and drone technology, showcasing the country's growing military capabilities. The parade, which marks 80 years since Japan's surrender in the Second World War, will demonstrate the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) ability to project power and match the United States. Western analysts will be closely watching the event, which comes amid escalating tensions between China and the US, particularly over Taiwan. The parade will also feature Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-Un, and Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran's president, alongside Xi Jinping.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Chinese military parade will feature the country's most advanced laser air defense system, with a 10kw OW5-A10 truck-mounted laser reportedly able to intercept drone swarms.
  • The parade will also showcase new anti-ship missiles, including the "YJ" or "eagle attack" class, which could be sent to sink American or British warships that intervene in the South China Sea.
  • China's drone technology has proven its mettle on the battlefield in Ukraine, with cheap, short-range Mavics used by both sides and longer-range suicide drones in heavy use by Putin's army.
  • The PLA has not been tested in combat since its last war in 1979, but the current parade comes after Pakistan used Chinese-made weapons to shoot down a French-made Rafale in the Indian air force.
  • China currently offers certain laser platforms for export, and its military is shifting trends in defense procurement, with drones and laser technology becoming increasingly important.
  • The US defense department is also investing in laser technology, with plans to equip four destroyers with the £120m Dragonfire system by 2027.
  • Several firms and the US defense department are working on mobile generators to power lasers, allowing them to "shoot-and-move".
  • While China is speeding up its development in laser technology, there is limited visual evidence of these systems in operation, with the US and other major militaries also investing in similar technology.
  • The world's major militaries are all "probably within a ballpark of one another" in terms of deploying laser weapons on the battlefield, according to research fellow Sidharth Kaushal.

Statistics:

  • The 10kw OW5-A10 truck-mounted laser is reportedly able to intercept drone swarms.
  • The YJ or "eagle attack" class anti-ship missiles could be sent to sink American or British warships that intervene in the South China Sea.
  • The Royal Navy's Dragonfire system shot down 30 drones in 300 shots in trials earlier this year.
  • The US defense department plans to equip four destroyers with the £120m Dragonfire system by 2027.
  • The US air force has given up entirely on its plans to mount a laser capable of intercepting cruise missiles on a tactical fighter jet.
  • The US army is considering cancelling plans to mount 50kw lasers on top of Stryker infantry fighting vehicles after disappointing tests in Iraq.
  • The US military has been hit by notable setbacks in laser technology development over the past 12 months.

Sources:

  • [1] "China's Military Parade to Showcase Advanced Laser Technology and Strategic Significance" (2023)
  • [2] "US Navy's Battles with Houthi Militants in the Red Sea" (2023)
  • [3] "Israel's Lite-Beam and Iron-Beam systems shot down Hezbollah drones in October last year" (2023)
  • [4] "Royal United Services Institute (RUSI)" (2023)
  • [5] "Heritage Foundation, a Washington-based think tank" (2023)
  • [6] "Laser Wars newsletter on Substack" (2023)
  • [7] "The War of the Worlds (1898)" by HG Wells