Resentment in Saudi Arabia about Chinese system “Skyshield”

Customer complains about laser weapon

Technology superpower China? This report arouses doubts

Saudi Arabia wants to protect its oil systems with a laser weapon system from China. But in practice, the “Skyshield” has apparently not proven itself.

At the military parade in Beijing last week, China proudly showed his latest laser weapon: the LY-1. The propaganda spoke full -bodiedly of the “strongest laser weapon in the world” – but gave no information on the technical skills of the device that should intercept drones, rockets and marching missiles in the future. The world press was still impressed by the military skills presented by China. But now the picture gets cracks from the new technological superpower.

For example, Saudi military reports of major problems with the “Skyshield” system, which the US ally procured in China in 2019 after devastating attacks by the Islamist Houthi militia. “Skyshield” has different radar systems, a disturbant and a laser in order to be able to recognize and intercept deep and slowly flying drones in good time. But of all things, the Laser of the “Skyshield” apparently does not meet Saudi Arabia’s expectations.

“Despite the good performance during the attempts, Skyshield ‘under real conditions have a worse effectiveness than promised,” quotes the “Defense Blog” portal, a Saudi officer who is familiar with the system. “In some cases, it took between 15 and 30 minutes, in which the goal continued to target the laser and often had to be shot down to really destroy a drone.” At least the laser component of the “Skyshield” seems to be almost unusable.

Because the maximum range of the system to destroy a drone is given as four kilometers. However, this distance can cover this distance, for example, an Iranian Kamikazedrohne of the type Shahed, with which Russia always attacks Ukrainian cities, in just one and a half minutes – with “Skyshield” it would not be intercepted. Even smaller drones at just 50 km/h would be too fast for the Chinese catchment system.

In Saudi Arabia, the “Skyshield” probably suffers primarily from the climatic conditions of the desert state. According to the officer, dust and sand disturb the optical target tracking of the system and affect the strength of the laser beam. The long target entry also leads to excessive wear and tear of the optical system. And the heat in Saudi Arabia claims the cooling of the laser so strongly that it cannot fire with full strength.

Laser weapons are the great hope of many armies in the fight against drones. Although they cost a lot of money in development, they should be much more cost -effective than anti -aircraft missiles. A shot with a laser weapon costs only a few euros, but a single Patriot rocket, on the other hand, at least three million euros. Since the Russian attack on Ukraine in February 2022, western armies have also intensified their work on laser weapons.