What is a true laser weapon?
——Liu Zejin

Laser weapons hold immense potential, but they will never completely replace conventional weapons, either now or in the future.

Developing a laser weapon with practical combat significance is extremely challenging. It requires systematic research based on factors such as engagement distance, operational environment, and logistical support, rather than relying solely on breakthroughs in a single technological aspect.

Fast, precise, and low operational cost
Laser weapons can play a unique role in scenarios such as point defense, missile interception, anti-satellite operations, and countering swarms of intelligent drones.

A new-concept weapon that could change the rules of warfare

We plan to briefly introduce what a true "laser weapon" is in accessible language. The introduction will be divided into five sections: the basic concept of laser weapons, the laser source in laser weapons, laser beam control, laser atmospheric propagation, and the combat applications of laser weapons.

1. What are the components of a laser weapon?

2. Factors affecting combat effectiveness

The combat effectiveness of a laser weapon is closely related not only to the power density of the laser reaching the target surface and the duration of sustained irradiation but also to factors such as the targeted area and the size of the laser spot. Of course, the impact of weather conditions and battlefield environments cannot be ignored—under adverse conditions such as rain, fog, or haze, laser weapons may be rendered unusable.

The fundamental requirement for developing a laser weapon is to deliver a sufficiently high-intensity laser beam (typically measured in energy density) to a sufficiently large area (or specific part) of the target and maintain it for a long enough duration.

This requirement involves multiple disciplines, including optical engineering, physics, mechanics, electronics, materials science and engineering, atmospheric science, computer science and technology, control science, and chemistry. It is a quintessential interdisciplinary engineering challenge.

Laser weapon developers must also clearly understand the boundary conditions of operational requirements, such as: how much power, space, and weight the platform can provide; system startup time; the warning time needed to detect targets; the number of consecutive engagements; and more.

Why haven’t they become practical combat equipment in 50 years?

The development of laser weapons is a complex systems engineering task—far more than just developing a high-energy laser (and even that is no simple feat).

Historically, many laser weapon programs came close to success but were shelved because they failed to meet operational needs. As a result, "laser weapons" have not become practical combat equipment in the 50 years since the concept was first proposed.

Shall we wait for the "next 50 years"?