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Liu Zhen

The Chinese navy has unveiled a new anti-drone air defence system, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Drones have fundamentally transformed naval warfare in recent years and emerged as a significant threat to modern warships in conflicts such as Russia’s war against Ukraine and the US-Israeli attacks on Iran.
The CCTV report on Monday said a “finalisation test” – which certifies that a weapon system’s design meets all operational requirements – had been successfully carried out in the Bohai Sea.
In effect, this means that it has been given the official green light for mass production and deployment.
During the test, the system intercepted multiple drones conducting “high-difficulty” ultra-low-altitude and stealth attacks in a “realistic” combat simulation, the report said.
“These manoeuvres were designed to comprehensively test the weapon system’s interception capabilities under complex electromagnetic environments and ultra-low-altitude penetration conditions,” it added.
The report included footage of drones being launched from land and rapidly skimming just above the sea surface before being destroyed.
However, it did not include clear close-ups of the intercepting weapon or the platform from which it was launched, and blurred out the equipment in the control centre where operators conducted the test.
CCTV did not disclose the name of the weapon or say when the test took place.
It said only that the test had provided “solid data” to help improve the system’s combat effectiveness.
In modern warfare, drones have repeatedly proved their worth as a low-cost, asymmetric weapon.
Ukrainian forces have used both naval and aerial drones to inflict substantial losses on Russia’s Black Sea fleet.
Similarly, Iran has carried out drone-led operations for surveillance and attempted blockades of the Strait of Hormuz.

One of the most effective tactics has been the use of ultra-low-altitude drones that fly just above the surface of the sea, keeping them below the radar horizon of shipborne air defence systems until the final moments of their approach.
When flying at low altitudes, noise and interference from the sea further degrade sensor performance, making it difficult for defenders to pick out incoming drones.
All these factors leave an extremely narrow window for detection, tracking and interception.
To tackle the challenge, the PLA Navy has been expanding its arsenal of ship-based terminal and short-range air defence systems.
As well as upgrading its existing short-range interceptor missiles to meet the threat, it has also developed a new high-powered laser system, the Liaoyuan-1.
The directed-energy weapon – which was unveiled during a People’s Liberation Army parade in Beijing last September – is designed to provide an effective and economic countermeasure against small and swarm drones.


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China

Military

The PLA has been working to improve its defences after the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East highlighted the threat of anti-ship drones


The PLA has been working to improve its defences after the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East highlighted the threat of anti-ship drones.


UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles)

CCTV

China’s military

China unveils new naval defence systems as drones change nature of war at sea

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The PLA has been working to improve its defences after the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East highlighted the threat of anti-ship drones

The PLA has been working to improve its defences after the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East highlighted the threat of anti-ship drones