China installs LY-1 laser weapon on second Type 071 amphibious landing ship Qilianshan.

China has likely mounted the LY-1 high-energy laser weapon system on the Type 071 amphibious landing ship Qilianshan, marking the second possible installation of this weapon in the class.

As reported by Sugar_wsnbn on November 15, 2025, China has likely equipped the Type 071 landing dock ship Qilianshan (985) with the LY-1 high-energy laser, marking the second vessel in the class to receive the system after its sister ship Simingshan (986). Imagery shows that the Qilianshan carries a rigid rectangular enclosure at the installation point, replacing the soft protective housing seen on the first integration. This configuration supports indications that China is standardizing the naval version of the LY-1 for routine use on the class.
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The LY-1 will likely be used on the Qilianshan to intercept reconnaissance drones, loitering munitions, and low-altitude cruise missiles that approach the ship at short range during amphibious or littoral operations. (Picture source: Weibo and 阿黄牛zs via X/Sugar_wsnbn)

China has expanded the integration of high-energy laser weapons into its amphibious fleet with the likely confirmation that the Type 071 landing dock ship Qilianshan, numbered 985, is now equipped with the LY-1 laser system. Visual evidence shows a new, rigid, rectangular cover installed at the same position where the Type 071 vessel Simingshan, numbered 986, previously received the same weapon. This enclosure replaces the soft protective dome seen on the earlier installation, indicating that an updated configuration has possibly entered service. The appearance of this modified housing could also suggest adjustments linked to thermal management or shielding of internal components. The Qilianshan’s possible outfitting confirms that the LY-1 is no longer confined to a single ship of the class. It follows the public display of a land-based LY-1 turret on an 8x8 vehicle during the September 2025 parade in Beijing. Together, these developments indicate a wider transition in which laser systems on Type 071 vessels are shifting from experimental use to regular fitting. The installation could also reflect ongoing efforts by China to strengthen the short-range defensive capacities on its large amphibious ships.

The LY-1, known in Chinese sources as Liaoyuan-1, is a high-energy laser system designed for engagement of small unmanned aerial vehicles, loitering munitions, helicopters, and subsonic cruise missiles at short range around naval platforms. The system was shown publicly in September 2025 during a military parade marking the eightieth anniversary of the end of the Second World War, where several units appeared on the 8x8 vehicle chassis. Earlier sightings had included a similar system mounted on a Type 071 ship during 2024, while material from 2019 indicated that a naval laser weapon of comparable configuration was under development for the Chinese fleet. Descriptions published in China indicate that LY-1 is intended to act as the final defensive layer within a multi-tiered shipborne air defence architecture. Within that structure, the LY-1 is said to complement long-range HHQ-9C, medium-range HQ-16C, and short-range HQ-10A missiles by engaging targets that have penetrated the outer rings. At very short distances, the laser is expected to damage sensors and structural components of incoming aerial systems. This sequence reduces the consumption of conventional interceptors during saturation attacks. The system, therefore, fits into a broader trend in which navies (such as the US, Italian, or French ones) seek cost-efficient methods to counter large numbers of small airborne threats.

Technical assessments describe LY-1 as operating in the 180 to 250 kilowatt range, with some estimates placing potential output in the 200 to 300 kilowatt class when installed on platforms with sufficient electrical capacity. The turret features a large circular aperture assessed to be nearly twice the diameter used by the United States Navy’s HELIOS laser, which is relevant because larger apertures maintain tighter beam focus at distance. The turret also carries optical and infrared sensors arranged around the main emitter, along with a module likely containing radar or passive radio-frequency receivers. The system is expected to burn through electro-optical sensors, heat infrared seekers, or degrade structural materials through sustained illumination. Engagement ranges against small unmanned systems are believed to extend into the tens of kilometres, with some assessments suggesting more than twenty kilometres under favourable atmospheric conditions. Typical engagements would involve placing the beam on vulnerable points such as guidance windows or key structural sections for several seconds. LY-1’s effectiveness is influenced by local weather, aerosol density, and ship movement. These characteristics indicate that LY-1 supplements rather than replace missile-based defences, especially against higher-speed or higher-altitude threats.

Descriptions of LY-1’s internal structure indicate the use of multiple fibre-laser modules combined into a single output beam through spectral beam combining. This technique offers higher electrical-to-optical efficiency and manageable thermal loads compared to earlier chemical or solid-state laser designs. LY-1 uses adaptive optics to correct for platform vibration and atmospheric turbulence, enabling controlled energy delivery at short tactical ranges. A shared-aperture optical system allows the weapon to receive reflected light through the same main mirror, improving tracking sensitivity. The system draws on integrated electrical power and cooling from its host platform, requiring stable energy distribution and substantial heat rejection capacity. Atmospheric conditions such as rain, fog, or aerosol concentration can reduce beam quality and engagement range. For this reason, the system is positioned as part of a combined defensive network rather than an autonomous solution. Internationally, comparable work includes the U.S. HELIOS programme, Israel’s Iron Beam, and European naval demonstrators such as the German twenty-kilowatt trial system on the frigate Sachsen. In parallel, interest has been noted in Pakistan, where naval officials have expressed willingness to explore directed-energy systems for future fleet integration. Such interest reflects regional trends in counter-drone requirements.

The LY-1 seems to be installed on at least two Type 071 Yuzhao-class, the Qilianshan (985) and the Simingshan (986), which are large amphibious transport docks designed to embark troops, vehicles, landing craft, and helicopters for expeditionary missions. With a displacement of roughly twenty thousand tonnes, a length of about two hundred and ten metres, and a beam of approximately twenty-eight metres, they possess internal volume suited to transporting marines and equipment. The ships feature a well deck capable of housing air-cushion landing craft or conventional landing craft used to deliver forces ashore. The stern flight deck supports operations of multiple helicopters and connects to a hangar sized for medium-lift rotorcraft. These characteristics position the class for operations in contested littoral regions, overseas deployments, and complex amphibious missions. During such operations, the ships can face drone surveillance, loitering munitions, and low-altitude cruise missiles. The installation of the LY-1, therefore, seems to address a specific requirement of the Chinese Navy for short-range defensive capacity. Indeed, the class’s size and internal systems make it a suitable early host for directed-energy systems with significant power and cooling demands.

Type 071 ships combine amphibious capabilities with command functions and self-defence systems that must now accommodate the operational requirements of LY-1. Propulsion is provided by diesel engines driving twin shafts, producing speeds in the mid-twenties of knots and giving the class long endurance for sustained missions. Onboard sensors include surveillance radars, navigation systems, and communication suites linked to a command information centre responsible for coordinating embarked troops and aviation assets. Earlier configurations carried close-in weapon systems such as thirty millimetre guns and short-range missiles positioned near likely threat axes. LY-1 now occupies one of these locations, indicating a shift toward mixed directed-energy and kinetic defences. Integration requires both structural reinforcement and stable electrical and coolant distribution from the ship’s central systems. The rigid rectangular enclosure installed on Qilianshan differs from the soft protective dome seen earlier on Simingshan, suggesting refinement of environmental shielding and maintainability. These differences imply ongoing maturation of the engineering approach used to install laser systems on amphibious platforms.

The roles of the Qilianshan and its sister ships could explain why they were chosen for early operational installation of a laser system. Amphibious transport docks operate near coastlines during landing operations, which exposes them to large numbers of small drones intended for reconnaissance, targeting support, or direct attack on embarked forces. LY-1’s ability to deliver multiple engagements without ammunition expenditure is relevant for scenarios involving repeated small-scale incursions. The ships also manage helicopter flights, landing craft sorties waves, and unmanned platforms, all of which create a complex environment with multiple potential vulnerabilities. Installing LY-1 expands the set of tools available for inner-layer defence by reducing the need to intercept low-value threats with missile systems. At the same time, the class retains its missile and gun-based options, with LY-1 adding another layer intended to limit the volume of threats that reach kinetic systems. The presence of LY-1 on both Qilianshan and Simingshan suggests a pathway toward wider adoption in the class. Experience gained from these installations will inform future deployments on additional surface combatants (possibly on the Type 055) and contribute to the evolution of China’s naval defensive architecture.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.