Is China secretly supplying Russia with Silent Hunter laser systems to counter Ukrainian drones?.

On May 30, 2025, Military Informant released what appears to be the first visual evidence of a Chinese-made laser air defense system used in active combat in Ukraine. The footage, initially circulated on Telegram and later disseminated across platforms such as X and VKontakte, shows a laser system being operated by the Russian special forces unit “Kochevnik,” also referred to as “Nomad.” The video includes sequences showing internal operation of the system, steel plate penetration tests, and the apparent destruction of Ukrainian drones in flight. Ukrainian observers identified the destroyed UAVs as a Shchedryk-type reconnaissance drone, a Skywalker X8, and a decoy drone known as the Distractor.
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The Silent Hunter is an electrically powered, fiber-optic laser system available in both fixed and mobile configurations, including SUV- and truck-mounted variants. (Picture source: Telegram/Military Informant)

The footage suggests that engagements took place at distances exceeding 1.3 kilometers. Some Russian sources claimed that this laser system had already been operational since October 2024, although the precise timeline remains unclear. The video’s publication came just two days before Ukraine launched Operation Spiderweb, a large-scale drone attack that reportedly destroyed up to 40 aircraft and inflicted $7 billion in estimated damage on Russian strategic aviation infrastructure. The Chinese laser system depicted in the footage is likely the Silent Hunter or Low-Altitude Laser Defending System (LASS), developed by the Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics and marketed by Poly Technologies. The Silent Hunter is an electrically powered, fiber-optic laser system available in both fixed and mobile configurations, including SUV- and truck-mounted variants.

Its reported power output ranges between 10 and 100 kilowatts, depending on the version, and it can engage targets at distances of up to 4 kilometers. The system is capable of piercing five layers of 2-millimeter steel from a distance of 800 meters or one 5-millimeter plate from 1,000 meters. It includes radar for detection up to 5 kilometers and optical tracking for target engagement at closer ranges. Its laser can operate for up to 200 seconds continuously, and deployment or shutdown can reportedly be completed in under five minutes. Originally unveiled at IDEX 2017 in Abu Dhabi and later exhibited at other events, including KADEX and the Zhuhai Airshow, Silent Hunter has also been used to secure high-profile venues such as the G20 Summit in Hangzhou in 2016 and the World Defense Show in Riyadh in 2024.

There is uncertainty regarding whether the system used in Russia is indeed Silent Hunter or a similar laser platform known as the Shen Nung 3000 or 5000. These variants, also developed by the Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics, have been previously exported to Iran and observed mounted on Dongfeng Mengshi 4×4 light tactical vehicles or in containerized versions. Fabian Hinz, a research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, noted that while the sensor layout in the Russian footage differs slightly, the system strongly resembles the Shen Nung 3000/5000 configuration. Shen Nung is known for dual modes: a “dazzling” function that blinds drone optics beyond 3 kilometers and a hard-kill mode that can destroy UAVs within 1.5 kilometers. In October 2024, such a system was spotted in Tehran during a public event attended by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, days after Iran had launched missiles and drones at Israel. Analysts believe the system was deployed for protective purposes, marking the first public appearance of the Shen Nung in Iran. The current Russian deployment may represent either an export of that system or a platform derived from the same technology family. One must also not forget the Chinese habit of offering the same system under different names and through multiple companies, as demonstrated by the ASN-301 loitering munition.

China has officially denied supplying lethal weaponry to Russia for use in Ukraine. In April 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that Chinese representatives were engaged in weapons production on Russian soil and accused Beijing of providing material support to Moscow’s war effort. These statements were rejected by China’s Foreign Ministry, which reiterated its stated position of neutrality and support for negotiations. On May 26, 2025, Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service stated that China was supplying critical components, such as machine tools, chemical precursors, electronics, and gunpowder, to at least 20 Russian defense factories. According to their assessment, up to 80 percent of the electronics used in Russian drones originate from China. These items are often classified as dual-use, complicating the enforcement of export controls. A prior assessment from the Biden administration also confirmed Chinese transfers of microelectronics essential to Russian production of cruise missiles, armored vehicles, and combat aircraft. While there is no official documentation of a Chinese laser weapon being transferred to Russia, the visual evidence in the video, combined with prior exports to Iran and Saudi Arabia, could suggest a consistent pattern of deployment to partners.

Russia has been exploring domestic laser-based air defense systems, but operational details remain limited. The country has publicly referenced the Peresvet and Zadira systems, although their capabilities and fielding status are largely undocumented. In August 2023, RIA Novosti reported that an unnamed Russian laser weapon successfully neutralized several UAVs during field tests. Additionally, in early 2025, First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov stated that the Pantsir air defense system would be integrated with a laser system as part of ongoing modernization. The video released by Russian sources reflects a shift in perception regarding combat lasers, once viewed as impractical or experimental. Telegram channels such as Military Informant noted that the frequency and sophistication of Ukrainian drone attacks forced a reevaluation of directed-energy weapons. These systems, while limited by power requirements and environmental factors such as weather, offer operational advantages such as low cost-per-shot, minimized collateral damage, and scalable response capabilities. They also present solutions for intercepting large numbers of low-cost drones that would otherwise deplete more expensive interceptor inventories.

China has marketed its laser systems internationally for several years, positioning them as cost-effective tools against drones and low-flying aerial threats. At DSA 2024, Poly Technologies showcased the Silent Hunter in three power configurations (10, 20, and 30 kilowatts), with ranges from 2 to 4 kilometers, and capable of targeting drones flying below 60 meters per second. The system can intercept UAVs with diameters less than two meters and can switch between targets in under six seconds. Its ammunition-free design eliminates the need for resupply and enables continuous operation provided sufficient power. Silent Hunter systems have been deployed in Saudi Arabia since 2022, where eight units operate in coordination with truck-mounted 3D radars. During the 2024 World Defense Show in Riyadh, a Saudi-operated Silent Hunter was reportedly used to neutralize a Houthi drone, marking its first confirmed hard-kill engagement. The system has also been proposed for urban security and event protection, and remains part of China’s broader effort to develop and export advanced counter-UAV technologies.

The emergence of a Chinese laser system in Russian service, even if unacknowledged, suggests convergence in the military technology ecosystems of China, Russia, and Iran. All three countries face threats from UAVs and seek alternatives to expensive interceptor-based defenses. This development follows the increasing use of drone swarms in Ukraine, which have exposed vulnerabilities in traditional air defense networks. Lessons learned from the Russian deployment may inform China’s own planning, particularly in scenarios involving the Taiwan Strait, where the U.S. has declared its intent to create a highly saturated drone operating environment. U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s Admiral Samuel Paparo stated in July 2024 that the goal is to make the Taiwan Strait an “unmanned hellscape” to disrupt a potential Chinese invasion. The Pentagon’s Replicator initiative aims to deploy large numbers of autonomous systems with lethal and surveillance capabilities by August 2025. China, aware of these plans, has continued developing its own advanced countermeasures, including the LW-30 and LW-60 laser systems and innovations in thermal cooling technology to enhance operational endurance. The conflict in Ukraine is increasingly becoming a laboratory for these emerging technologies, with consequences for regional and global military balances.