Chinese vessel lases Australian P-8A Maritime Patrol Aircraft

Chinese vessel lased an Australian P-8A Maritime Patrol Aircraft
A PLAN Luyang-class guided missile destroyer (left) and a PLAN Yuzhao-class amphibious transport dock vessel leave the Torres Strait and enter the Coral Sea on 18 February 2022. Australian Government photo.
The Australian Department of Defence can confirm that on 17 February 2022, a P-8A Poseidon detected a laser illuminating the aircraft while in flight over Australia’s northern approaches.
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Australia’s Department of Defence press release

The laser was detected as emanating from a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessel. Illumination of the aircraft by the Chinese vessel is a serious safety incident.

Acts like this have the potential to endanger lives.

We strongly condemn unprofessional and unsafe military conduct.

These actions could have endangered the safety and lives of the ADF personnel.

Such actions are not in keeping with the standards we expect of professional militaries.

The vessel, in company with another PLAN ship, was sailing east through the Arafura Sea at the time of the incident. Both ships have since transited through the Torres Strait and are in the Coral Sea.

Chinese vessel lased an Australian P-8A Maritime Patrol Aircraft
[Click to enlarge] A Headquarters Joint Operations Command storyboard depicting the movements of a PLAN Luyang-class guided missile destroyer and a PLAN Yuzhao-class amphibious transport dock vessel, including their passage into the Arafura Sea and through the Torres Strait into the Coral Sea. Note the lasing incident against a Royal Australian Air Force P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft that occurred on 17 February 2022. Australian Government image.

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