Laser war begins? Russia deploys Chinese-Made silent hunter to blast enemy drones

In a striking development that signals a deepening alliance between Russia and China, Russian pro-Kremlin media have released the first verified footage of a Chinese-made Silent Hunter laser system deployed by Russian forces. The video, shared on May 30, appears to confirm Russia’s operational use of directed-energy weapons on the battlefield.

The footage, reportedly taken during a field engagement with an enemy reconnaissance drone, shows the Silent Hunter 3000 — a mobile, turret-mounted laser system — concealed beneath camouflage netting before activation. The system is said to be operated by the “Kochevnik” special operations group.

This marks the first visual confirmation of the Silent Hunter in Russian service, despite long-standing rumors of Moscow’s interest in energy weapons. Unlike earlier reports, which only hinted at the use of lasers, this video clearly depicts both the vehicle-mounted laser cannon and its optical tracking suite as it targets aerial threats.

What is the Silent Hunter?

The Silent Hunter, also known as LASS (Low-Altitude Laser Defending System), is a 30-kilowatt directed-energy weapon developed by the Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics. It’s built to detect, track, and disable low-flying UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) and potentially blind optical sensors from a distance.

According to open-source data and Russian media claims, the system:

• Has a maximum range of 1.5 km for destroying aerial targets

• Can dazzle or blind sensors from up to 3 km

• Uses radar to detect targets within a 5 km radius

• Offers up to 200 seconds of continuous laser operation

• Can deploy or shut down in under five minutes

The laser’s turret-based design and vehicle mobility make it particularly suited for forward-deployed units or special operations.

Strategic Implications

The deployment of a Chinese weapon system in an active Russian combat zone is more than a battlefield curiosity — it’s a political and military statement. It reflects an evolving technology transfer relationship between Moscow and Beijing, particularly in advanced weapons systems typically subject to export controls.

Silent Hunter systems have previously been seen in use by Chinese, Iranian, and Saudi Arabian forces, but never before with Russian troops in combat conditions.

For Western analysts and defense planners, this development raises key questions:

• Is China now directly supplying cutting-edge laser systems for Russian use in Ukraine or elsewhere?

• Will Russia attempt to reverse-engineer this technology for domestic production?

• And what role will directed-energy weapons play in future drone warfare?

The Drone Wars Just Escalated

As drone warfare becomes increasingly central to modern conflict, the introduction of combat-ready laser defense systems could reshape tactical doctrines. Unlike traditional anti-aircraft platforms, laser weapons offer low-cost-per-shot and near-instant response times, making them ideal against the small, cheap drones that have flooded battlefields in Ukraine and the Middle East.

The Silent Hunter’s presence on the Russian frontlines may be a preview of next-generation warfare, where drones and lasers clash in a high-tech arms race — one in which alliances like that between Russia and China may become ever more consequential.