Powerful anti-drone laser spotted on PLA amphibious ship in South China Sea

China’s most advanced laser weapon has been spotted aboard a Type 071 amphibious landing ship in the South China Sea, adding near-shore anti-drone capabilities to a family of warships vital for potential conflicts in sensitive waters, according to analysts. In a People’s Liberation Army joint air and naval drill at Scarborough Shoal on August 1, a shipborne laser weapon believed to be the Liaoyuan-1 (LY-1) was seen on the Qilianshan, making it the latest large surface vessel so far equipped…