China Unveils Portable Laser Weapons to Counter Drone Threats

China has unveiled a portable anti-drone laser weapon that can be carried by a single soldier. The weapon is part of the Lijian series, specifically the Lijian II and Lijian III, manufactured by Chinese defence company Harbin Xinguang Optic-Electronics Technology. The products were showcased at the Defence Information Equipment & Technology Exhibition 2026, a three-day event that opened in Beijing last Tuesday. Both models consist of only three main components: a laser emitter, an air-cooling system, and a handheld control terminal. All components can be stored and transported using a backpack. The Lijian II weighs approximately 30 kilogrammes, whilst the Lijian III weighs 25 kilogrammes. Both models also feature an elevation angle of more than 90 degrees, allowing operators to shoot down drones more flexibly. However, their attack range is shorter compared to the fixed Lijian-10G anti-drone model, which can reach targets up to 1,200 metres away. The Lijian II and Lijian III have an effective range of about 500 metres. “Our portable anti-drone equipment is small, with the emitter weighing 15 kilogrammes and the air-cooling system weighing 10 kilogrammes,” said Zhao Yao, the company’s product promoter at the exhibition. “Theoretically, this device can be carried and used on the battlefield by just one or two people using backpacks. This device for individual soldiers is easier to operate and can be deployed and withdrawn quickly,” he continued. Zhao explained that the system’s power consumption is designed to be around 2 kilowatts. He noted that the core technology used in the Lijian series reached a mature stage in 2023, when the war in Ukraine began to change military perspectives on drone warfare. According to Zhao, the Lijian III can burn a drone in just four seconds. After firing the laser, the system also requires less than five seconds to cool down before firing again. Despite being portable, the device is not cheap. Each unit is priced at around 2 million yuan, or approximately Rp 5.3 billion. The developing company stated that the Lijian series is also equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to identify targets and attack drones entering its coverage area. The system can operate with the assistance of external devices such as radar. “We can equip this device with a small radar, and it can also be integrated into an overall anti-drone system through an external guidance interface,” Zhao said. He added that the Lijian series has already been deployed at several important facilities in China, particularly at military airbases. The company hopes to secure more orders from military bases and airfields through the exhibition. Chinese military analyst Song Zhongping said that the miniaturised laser-based anti-drone system can be flexibly positioned by soldiers in various locations, forming makeshift air defence points on the battlefield. “This new weapon can serve as organic support equipment for field units, especially at the squad and platoon level, to protect troops from drone attacks at a lower cost than shoulder-fired missiles,” Song said. This new weapon marks a shift from large-scale equipment and experimental concepts towards weaponry that can be used conventionally on the battlefield. The critical role of drones in warfare became apparent during the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Subsequently, Iran demonstrated the effectiveness and efficiency of retaliatory strikes using cheap drones in response to missile attacks from Israel and the United States. The US has even begun developing its own low-cost drones to eliminate dependence on much more expensive cruise missiles.