CNN: US says Chinese warship fired military laser at US aircraft

[beijingwalker]

US says Chinese warship fired military laser at US aircraft
By Ryan Browne, CNN

Updated 2347 GMT (0747 HKT) February 27, 2020

Washington (CNN)The US Navy said Thursday that a Chinese military warship fired a military grade laser at US Navy P-8 surveillance aircraft last week while it was flying over the Pacific Ocean, an action that the US Navy called "unsafe and unprofessional."

The People's Republic of China "navy destroyer's actions were unsafe and unprofessional," US Pacific Fleet said in a statement Thursday.

"Weapons-grade lasers could potentially cause serious harm to aircrew and mariners, as well as ship and aircraft systems," the statement added.

Military-grade laser beams, occasionally known as "dazzlers," omit a powerful beam of light that can travel great distances and be used to illuminate aircraft cockpits, temporarily blinding pilots.

Defense officials told CNN that a formal diplomatic protests known as a démarche is expected to be issued.

The incident comes amid ongoing tensions between the US and Chinese militaries.
The Pentagon has repeatedly said that China represents an increasingly serious threat to regional security, saying that major Chinese investments in its military are aimed at achieving regional dominance.

"Over time, we have watched them seize and militarize islands in the South China Sea, and rapidly modernize their armed forces, while seeking to use emerging technologies to alter the landscape of power and reshape the world in their favor ... and often at the expense of others," US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said earlier this month.

The US has similarly issued such diplomatic protests in the past due to what the US said was Chinese military forces using lasers against US aircraft.

One such incident took place in the East African nation of Djibouti where both the US and China maintain military bases. US officials in 2018 accused Chinese forces stationed in Djibouti of injuring US pilots with a laser that was fired at a US C-130J aircraft.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/27/politics/chinese-laser-us-aircraft/index.html

 

[Beast]

So now US military has developed a habit of never retaliate when under attack?

Iran missile attacked? Sounds familiar.

 

[Zharang9]

Reminds me of an article I read before. Laser weapons are something the Chinese military is working on. Acquiring high powered weapons capable of destroying missiles and aircraft would change the balance of power. If China succeeds and becomes a leader on this front it would mean having a weapon capable of hitting at the speed of light which cannot be defended at by using current missile defense systems.

China's Airborne Laser Weapon Would Change Dogfighting Forever

China’s military is soliciting would-be suppliers for a new airborne laser weapon. Notices on a government website invited defense contractors to provide information on an airborne laser attack pod. Depending on the level of power, the pod could be used to defend a friendly aircraft from incoming missile threats or destroy enemy aircraft and ground targets. Laser weapons are the next revolution in aerial warfare and could make dogfighting obsolete.

According to the South China Morning Post, weain.mil.cn, the official weapons and equipment procurement website of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) published two solicitations to contractors, one titled, “procurement plan for airborne laser attack pod” and the other “price inquiry on procurement plan for controlling software module of laser attack platform.” The solicitations, marked confidential, invited China’s defense firms to bid to develop the items. The Pentagon uses a similar system to procure weapons, equipment, and other technology.

Airborne laser pods would be mounted to Chinese warplanes such as the Shenyang J-15 “Flying Shark” carrier-based fighter, J-20 “Mighty Dragon” heavy fighter, and support aircraft such as the Xi’an Y-20 heavy transport. Their use would depend on the amount of power available. For example, lower power lasers could be used to disable or shoot down air-to-air missiles threatening the aircraft. Alternately, they could blind enemy pilots within visual range. Higher power weapons could damage and even destroy aircraft or larger ballistic missiles.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a30502725/china-airborne-laser/

 

[Foxtrot Delta]

Until some pilots die or go blind or an aircraft crashes i wont beleive it.

 

[jamahir]

One such incident took place in the East African nation of Djibouti where both the US and China maintain military bases.

Both in the same country ?? How does that work in practice ??

 

[gambit]

So now US military has developed a habit of never retaliate when under attack?

If that is an 'attack', your China got a long way to learn about warfare.

 

[Zane_K]

US says Chinese warship fired military laser at US aircraft
By Ryan Browne, CNN

Updated 2347 GMT (0747 HKT) February 27, 2020

Washington (CNN)The US Navy said Thursday that a Chinese military warship fired a military grade laser at US Navy P-8 surveillance aircraft last week while it was flying over the Pacific Ocean, an action that the US Navy called "unsafe and unprofessional."

The People's Republic of China "navy destroyer's actions were unsafe and unprofessional," US Pacific Fleet said in a statement Thursday.

"Weapons-grade lasers could potentially cause serious harm to aircrew and mariners, as well as ship and aircraft systems," the statement added.

Military-grade laser beams, occasionally known as "dazzlers," omit a powerful beam of light that can travel great distances and be used to illuminate aircraft cockpits, temporarily blinding pilots.

Defense officials told CNN that a formal diplomatic protests known as a démarche is expected to be issued.

The incident comes amid ongoing tensions between the US and Chinese militaries.
The Pentagon has repeatedly said that China represents an increasingly serious threat to regional security, saying that major Chinese investments in its military are aimed at achieving regional dominance.

"Over time, we have watched them seize and militarize islands in the South China Sea, and rapidly modernize their armed forces, while seeking to use emerging technologies to alter the landscape of power and reshape the world in their favor ... and often at the expense of others," US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said earlier this month.

The US has similarly issued such diplomatic protests in the past due to what the US said was Chinese military forces using lasers against US aircraft.

One such incident took place in the East African nation of Djibouti where both the US and China maintain military bases. US officials in 2018 accused Chinese forces stationed in Djibouti of injuring US pilots with a laser that was fired at a US C-130J aircraft.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/27/politics/chinese-laser-us-aircraft/index.html

So ... US was flying doo g it’s rounds in international air? Hmmmm ...ok if you say so

 

[KhanBaba2]

Both in the same country ?? How does that work in practice ??

Also France, Italy and Japan. Saudi will have one too. India is also trying.

 

[jamahir]

Also France, Italy and Japan. Saudi will have one too. India is also trying.

What I meant was USA and China being opponents but having bases in one single country. Those in your list are pro-USA.

 

[Beast]

And that is exactly the way we like it. The less they respect US, the better the taste when we dine on their corpses.

LOL... Bragging its best. Reply me again when you muster enough courage to attack Iran. US has yet to retaliate when Iran rain ballistic missile against paper Tiger.

Iran fired ballistic missile directly into an US overseas base. This is an act of war but US are too coward to respond. More like more of your men returns in bodybag. And today, US signed peace treaty with Taliban even they still continue to attack US outpost in Afghanistan. What a humiliation.

 

[gambit]

LOL... Bragging its best.

Better than what your China can do.

Reply me again when you muster enough courage to attack Iran.

Taiwan.

Iran fired ballistic missile directly into an US overseas base. This is an act of war but US are too coward to respond.

We killed one of their top generals and the best they did was gave a few US troops headaches. Military academies, including those in China, would give US the edge.

 

[Beast]

Taiwan.

Whats wrong with Taiwan? Did they declare independent or US start to recognize Taiwan as independent?
China main aim is to peacefully unify whole China, China claim war is only the last resort if all talks breakdown. Taiwan never fired ballistic missile into mainland China, are you ok?

We killed one of their top generals and the best they did was gave a few US troops headaches. Military academies, including those in China, would give US the edge.

Yup, at first Trump brag all is right, no one injury. Soon, its declared many suffered injury and now its your turn to give excuse for paper tiger not to retaliate. You killed their general in foreign land. Iran outright challenge US military by openly declare a missile attack in your base and you act all is right? Right, it take a lot of guts to stand for your right. I guess US lose all that.

Let me prove once again US is a paper Tiger.
https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/live-us-taliban-peace-deal-signing-ceremony-underway-in-doha.655191/
Cant even defeat caveman and brag will feast on enemies? R u ok? Did you take your drugs today?

 

[925boy]

So now US military has developed a habit of never retaliate when under attack?

Iran missile attacked? Sounds familiar.

NO LIES DETECTED.

We killed one of their top generals and the best they did was gave a few US troops headaches. Military academies, including those in China, would give US the edge.

You call TBI "headaches"? wow. well thats what Trump said, so you're ignorant as hell. TBI is currently a leading cause of dealth in the US. those 64 soldiers(+ the danish soldiers + other NATo soldiers hurt too) are never seeing combat duty again.

Until some pilots die or go blind or an aircraft crashes i wont beleive it.

if was really nothing, then why did US govt complain about it??

 

[BL33D]

I learn that US always give excuse about retaliation. So US is paper tiger is correct.
Less and less countries respect US military.

US special forces do covert operations all over the world. Have started numerous wars with varying degrees of success ( Not praising, just fact ). Fought Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and Taliban. Tell me when a Chinese soldier actually fires a bullet in a war or conflict.

 

[Beast]

US special forces do covert operations all over the world. Have started numerous wars with varying degrees of success ( Not praising, just fact ). Fought Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and Taliban. Tell me when a Chinese soldier actually fires a bullet in a war or conflict.

So US start a war just to prove its ego? Chinese military only fight for its land and righteous cause. We dont kill other just to prove something. If you claim war experience is so important. Tell me why Iraq armed forces failed to take on US coalition forces in 1991 Gulf war given that they just finished the long Iran/Iraq war in 1980-1988 with plenty of war experience. While US has not fought a major war right after Vietnam in 1975? You just run out of excuse to belittle PLA. The correct training and equipment are the key. Not war experience.