The Chinese Navy (PLAN) has modified a Type 071 amphibious transport dock (LPD) in order to install what appears to be a laser-based direct energy weapon (DEW). As usual with Chinese naval efforts, no official statements or media coverage of the new development exist. The related imagery initially circulated on Chinese social media. Enthusiasts have shared related information further on X, formerly known as Twitter and other internet platforms. For now observations are limited to three images indicating that the Chinese Navy has started testing a laser weapon. This event is therefore a developing story, with more substantial information hopefully appearing in due time.
The pictures show the Type 071 Simingshan (986). One image has the hull number obscured by the account originally sharing this information on Chinese social media service Weibo. A later shared image however confirmed the identity of the hull in question. The modified Type 071 LPD is berthed at the new Chinese amphibious base in Shanghai. The base sits across from Changxing Island in the Yangtze delta. Changxing itself is a hub for naval construction for PLAN via the Jiangnan and Hudong shipyards located there. The new base supports the East Sea Fleet (ESF) of PLAN, which includes several Type 071 LPD, including Simingshan.
The images show that Simingshan has undergone some significant modification of her forward superstructure. The changes accommodate the new design on an extended raised platform. The turret is sitting in B-position, behind the H/PJ-26 76 mm main gun and directly ahead of the bridge. The modification includes a protective and extendable cupola. This design supports the notion that this is indeed some form of laser weapon.
Its overall layout is similar to a number of foreign efforts, notably various American programs. The mount including the cupola especially resemble the AN/SEQ-3 LaWS Laser Weapon System temporarily installed on USS Dewey back in 2012. The US Navy has since tested a range of similar systems both for hard kill and “dazzling” purposes, including the AN/SEQ-4 ODIN Optical Dazzling Interdictor. Subject matter discussions comparing the new Chinese system also point to the Northrop Grumman-developed LWSD Laser Weapon System Demonstrator. Similar to the Chinese laser the US Navy installed LWSD on an LPD, the San Antonio-class USS Portland (LPD-27).
Chinese efforts for laser weapons are not new, although predominantly for ground-based developments. The experimental rail gun on Type 072III LST Haiyangshan previously represented the highest profile-effort by PLAN to integrate new cutting edge weapon concepts. Chinese naval hulls do make use of laser dazzlers. However, a dedicated effort for a hard kill-system is a prominent first. One somewhat similar looking design previously emerged in 2019 at a naval testing facility in northern China. Western media in this relation claimed the design to be a laser weapon. Further discussion and dissemination however has raised doubt on that particular system, which appears to be a ranging laser supporting missile testing instead.
As already mentioned, no further specifics exist so far on this new design. Lack of details include the perceived role, exact technical capabilities such as the particular type of laser or its power output. Higher powered laser weapons typically exceed 100 kW in output. However, for testing purposes a number of lower power designs also exist. The installation on a Type 071 makes sense as an LPD has both sufficient space and weight reserves. Therefore the needed modification is relatively straight forward. A large vessel like Siminghshan should also be able to provide sufficient power to a laser weapon without substantial changes.
One other notable aspect of the Chinese Navy testing a laser weapon on a Type 071 is the fact that the Chinese LPD in line with many similar international designs does not feature any missile-based self defence capability. The Type 071 beyond the main gun only carries two H/PJ-13 30 mm CIWS and heavy machine guns. The newer Type 075 LHD in contrast mounts two HQ-10 missile turrets for short range defence against antiship missiles and other airborne threats. If the new design is indeed a high powered hard kill-laser, the design can conceivably fill the close range defence-role on other Type 071 LPD in this regard.
For the time being, in line with other recent events, the appearance of this intriguing new design illustrates yet again how major Chinese efforts in naval innovation remain more or less obscure at least in the public debate until third party imagery reveals their existence for the first time.
