Taiwan is expected to begin testing of a cutting-edge high-energy laser system this year, thanks to breakthroughs made possible by “international friends,” a senior official said on Tuesday.
The National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) last year completed research on a low-powered version of a vehicle-mounted laser defense system.
Significant advancements are expected in the coming months, with a 50kW high-energy vehicle-mounted laser expected to enter testing later this year.
Photo courtesy of Kord Technologies
The US military last year delivered four Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD) prototype systems to the Fourth Battalion, 60th Air Defense Artillery Regiment.
According to the US Army, the 50kW mountable laser weapon is able to neutralize aerial threats through a quiet electronic attack, powered by an onboard thermal and power system that dissipates heat and recharges its batteries.
Earlier this week, US defense media reported that the four DE M-SHORAD prototypes had been sent to the Middle East to test “real-world applicability” operating in dusty conditions.
Many countries are racing to develop 50kW laser weapons systems, which are promising as low-cost defense against drones and slow aircraft.
The NCSIST keeps hitting technological milestones in a short amount of time thanks to guidance from international friends, a senior official with knowledge of the matter said on Tuesday.
The 50kW version is already suitable for combat, and could hopefully begin orders soon as another key weapons system that is produced domestically, the official added.
Taiwan is stepping up plans to create self-sufficient supply chains for combat drones and increase foreign orders from the US to counter China’s numerical superiority, a defense official said on Saturday. Commenting on condition of anonymity, the official said the nation’s armed forces are in agreement with US Admiral Samuel Paparo’s assessment that Taiwan’s military must be prepared to turn the nation’s waters into a “hellscape” for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Paparo, the commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, reiterated the concept during a Congressional hearing in Washington on Wednesday. He first coined the term in a security conference last
Prosecutors today declined to say who was questioned regarding alleged forgery on petitions to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators, after Chinese-language media earlier reported that members of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Youth League were brought in for questioning. The Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau confirmed that two people had been questioned, but did not disclose any further information about the ongoing investigation. KMT Youth League members Lee Hsiao-liang (李孝亮) and Liu Szu-yin (劉思吟) — who are leading the effort to recall DPP caucus chief executive Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) and Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) — both posted on Facebook saying: “I
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has fined Taobao NT$1.2 million (US$36,912) for advertisements that exceed its approved business scope, requiring the Chinese e-commerce platform to make corrections in the first half of this year or its license may be revoked. Lawmakers have called for stricter enforcement of Chinese e-commerce platforms and measures to prevent China from laundering its goods through Taiwan in response to US President Donald Trump’s heavy tariffs on China. The Legislative Yuan’s Finance Committee met today to discuss policies to prevent China from dumping goods in Taiwan, inviting government agencies to report. Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Kuo Kuo-wen (郭國文) said
Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), who led efforts to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Kun-cheng (李坤城), was released on bail of NT$80,000 today amid outcry over his decision to wear a Nazi armband to questioning the night before. Sung arrived at the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office for questioning in a recall petition forgery case last night wearing a red armband bearing a swastika, carrying a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf and giving a Nazi salute. Sung left the building at 1:15am without the armband and covering the book with his coat. Lee said today that this is a serious