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China’s Progress with Directed Energy Weapons
By Richard D. Fisher, Jr.
Senior Fellow, International Assessment and Strategy Center
Testimony before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission hearing,
“China’s Advanced Weapons,”
Washington, D.C, February 23, 2017
Introduction
For the United States, decades of technology investments in directed energy weapons—lasers,
railguns and high power microwave—are finally nearing the point of providing “next
generation” capabilities over potential enemies. Effective early defensive laser weapons plus
defensive-offensive railguns could be deployed in the early 2020s, while multi-platform high
power but compact laser weapons could be realized in the 2030s.
However, it appears increasingly likely that any period of advantage from these weapons could
be shorter than expected due to China’s large investments in energy weapons development. As
in many areas of advanced military technology development, it is difficult to assess precisely
China’s successes or progress toward the fielding of energy weapons. While Chinese military
transparency has improved gradually in some areas, with few exceptions, it does not approach
that of the U.S. in energy weapons.
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“Grey Sources” can provide some insights but they do not
allow for a full understanding of potential threats.
That said, China’s development of laser technology dates back to the early 1960s, aided by an
early and enduring commitment by top Chinese political and military leaders. Today, early
Chinese low-power electric Solid State Laser (SSL) “kill” weapons are being marketed as there
are indications China is also developing more powerful laser weapons, showing interest in using
them on land, naval, air and space platforms.
China has also made impressive investments in electromagnetic launch (EM) technology as there
are indications it has produced experimental railguns and may have tested an early
electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) for a future aircraft carrier. Larger
electromagnetic launch systems may serve as space launch system, and China also appears
interested in electro-thermal launch to boost the power of conventional artillery. Chinse sources
confirm great interest in high power microwave (HPM) weapons, including HPM cannons and
bombs, and so far, initial “active denial” systems are being marketed.
China’s energy weapons program has a breadth and intensity that should greatly concern
American and Allied defense planners. Some Chinese military experts expect that energy
weapons will become more prevalent in 10 to 20 years and will dominate the battlefield in 30
years. As such, it is imperative that the United States redouble its focus to achieve technology
breakthroughs needed to realize decisive energy weapon capabilities and be ready to cooperate
with critical allies to accelerate co-developments. The U.S. should also retain the flexibility to
deploy energy weapons from diverse platforms, including space platforms, to meet what could
be rapidly emerging new Chinese energy weapon threats.
