Once confined to large military installations and vehicle-mounted platforms, directed-energy weapons are getting small enough to ride with frontline troops.
That evolution is reflected in China’s latest laser weapon Lijian, built by Harbin Xinguang Optic-Electronics Technology, which shrinks anti-drone laser technology into a backpackable tool.
Operating at two kilowatts, the Lijian can reportedly disable a drone in four seconds and requires less than five seconds before engaging another target.
It comes in two variants: the 30-kilogram (66-pound) Lijian II and the lighter 25-kilogram (55-pound) Lijian III. Both have a maximum engagement range of 500 meters (1,640 feet).
The two variants share a common architecture consisting of a 15-kilogram (33-pound) laser emitter, a 10-kilogram (22-pound) air-cooling unit, and a handheld control device.
They can also be fitted with AI-enabled targeting and compact radar systems, while external guidance interfaces allow integration into broader counter-drone networks.
An elevation angle exceeding 90 degrees enables the weapon to engage steep-diving drones and sudden pop-up aerial threats.
Guarding China’s Skies
According to the South China Morning Post, the Lijian series is already deployed at high-value sites across China, including military airbases.
The weapon was showcased at the Defence Information Equipment & Technology Exhibition 2026 and carries a reported price tag of 2 million yuan ($295,000).
Its development reflects China’s progress in shrinking laser and power-generation technologies, moving directed-energy weapons from specialized platforms toward systems that can be carried and operated closer to the front line.
“Miniaturized laser-based anti-drone systems could be deployed … by individual soldiers, creating ad hoc air-defense nodes on the battlefield,” said Song Zhongping, a military analyst and former People’s Liberation Army instructor.
“This new weapon can serve as organic support equipment for field units, particularly at the squad and platoon levels, to protect troops from drone attacks at a lower cost than shoulder-fired missiles.”
