Russian Forces Receive Chinese Laser-powered Air Defense System

The Russian military has reportedly received and deployed the Chinese Silent Hunter laser-powered air defense system, according to newly released footage by Russian military intelligence.

The video, which surfaced on Russian channels, shows the laser system engaging and downing multiple Ukrainian drones, including the "Shchedryk" type UAV, the Skywalker X8, and a Distractor decoy UAV.

The Silent Hunter, known officially as the Low Altitude Laser Defense System (LASS), is a mobile, fiber-optic laser turret mounted on an SUV chassis. Developed by the Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics, the system is equipped with radar and optical targeting capabilities. It reportedly detects targets at ranges of up to 5 kilometers and can blind sensors at 3 kilometers. The shooting down range is claimed to be around 1.5 kilometers, with the latest footage showing Russian units engaging drones at over 1,300 meters.

Military observers from the UOJ "Vodogray" Telegram channel analyzed the footage and identified the types of UAVs neutralized by the laser. The laser is reportedly operated by a Nomad special unit mobile air defense group and has been used by Russian forces since at least October 2024.

This development comes amid heightened tensions following accusations from Ukraine that China has been supplying weapons to Russia. On April 17, 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly announced that Kyiv had obtained evidence of Chinese arms transfers to Russia. A day later, China’s Foreign Ministry denied the claims, asserting that China had never supplied lethal weapons to any party in the conflict. However, in May 2025, Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service reported evidence indicating that Chinese equipment and components were being supplied to Russian defense enterprises, with estimates suggesting that by early 2025, about 80% of critical electronics in Russian drones originated from China.

In addition to Russia and China, the Silent Hunter laser system is known to be in use by Iran and Saudi Arabia.