Story perspectives

China Tests Laser-Armed Amphibious Vehicle for Counter-Drone Use

By Drooid · Sep 12, 2026, 10:53 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

China’s People’s Liberation Army is testing a laser-armed Type 19 amphibious vehicle.
Images posted on Chinese social media on August 29 show the vehicle equipped with a laser and sensors.
Timothy Heath, Perceptum founder and RAND China analyst, said operating the laser while afloat should be possible.
He said if challenges are overcome, the laser counter-drone system could be useful in a Taiwan conflict.

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Story summary

China’s People’s Liberation Army is testing a laser-armed Type 19 amphibious vehicle.
Images posted on Chinese social media on August 29 show the vehicle equipped with a laser and sensors.
Timothy Heath, Perceptum founder and RAND China analyst, said operating the laser while afloat should be possible.
He said if challenges are overcome, the laser counter-drone system could be useful in a Taiwan conflict.