China Unveils New Mobile Anti-Drone Laser Weapons System: Why is the OW5-A50 Important?

The China North Industries Group Corporation (NORINCO) defence manufacturer has for the first time unveiled the new OW5-A50 laser air defence system, which was designed to counter drones and other low-flying targets such as helicopters and mortar rounds. The system is mounted on an 8×8 heavy truck chassis, and is fully autonomous in terms of power generation, meaning it requires no external energy sources during operations. Its high road mobility is expected to improve its survivability and its ability to respond to new threats. Global demand for anti-drone systems has increased considerably since 2022, as low cost unmanned aircraft have played an increasingly central role in the Russian-Ukrainian War,and have proven highly challenging for both sides to counter. The low cost of attack drones, many of which can be procured for under $30,000, makes the use of complex surface-to-air missile systems to intercept them far from cost effective.

In late May footage released by Russian media outlets confirmed that the Russian Armed Forces had procured the Chinese-made Silent Hunter 3000 laser air defence system, which was being used by the OSpN Kochevnik special operations group, and likely by other units, for anti-drone duties. Information from the combat testing of such laser systems in the Ukrainian theatre are expected to be valuable for China’s defence sector. Swarms of low cost drones have been used to engage targets in Russia ranging from residential buildings in Moscow, to major radar installations, and even airbases hosting Russian fighters and bombers. After the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched multiple successful strikes on Russian targets including the capital Moscow in early-mid 2023, CEO of the Rostec state owned defence conglomerate Sergey Chemezov stated on August 7 that year that work was underway to develop superior means of detecting small low speed drones, which had proven capable of evading air defences. China’s much larger and more advanced technological base, however, has ensured that such systems will be much more readily available from the country than they could be from indigenous Russian sources.