China tests first OW5-A50 laser air defense system to defend key areas from enemy drone swarms.

On July 21, 2025, China North Industries Group Corporation (Norinco) conducted a live-fire demonstration of the OW5-A50 laser weapon system at a military test site in Inner Mongolia. The exercise took place during a themed industry event focused on unmanned and counter-unmanned warfare systems for the defense export market.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

Chinese analysts argue that laser air defense systems such as the OW5-A50 offer a necessary complement to traditional interceptors like the HQ-9 or HQ-16, especially when facing frequent and low-value threats such as FPV drones or loitering munitions. (Picture source: Norinco)

Footage from the event showed the OW5-A50 engaging and disabling drone targets at several kilometers using a high-energy laser beam. The system employed directed energy to burn through the circuitry of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), causing them to fall without the use of ammunition. The video included scenes of the system transitioning from one target to another within seconds, emphasizing its ability to operate in saturation scenarios involving multiple aerial threats. NORINCO expert Ben Chi stated that the laser beam could achieve target kill within seconds by focusing on vital drone components, and that the system was designed for low-cost-per-engagement operations using onboard electrical power.

The OW5 series includes the OW5-A10, OW5-A30, and OW5-A50 variants, corresponding to laser power levels of approximately 10, 30, and 50 kilowatts. The OW5-A50 is the most powerful variant in the series and is mounted on an 8×8 heavy wheeled truck chassis. Reports suggest this chassis may be derived from either Dongfeng or Wanshan 8x8 truck platforms. The system integrates a hydraulic mast supporting the laser emitter, multispectral optical sensors including infrared and visible light channels, a rectangular active phased-array radar, and a rear power and control cabin. The laser beam system operates using onboard battery modules charged by an integrated generator, enabling autonomous function without an external energy supply. The OW5-A50 was designed to protect convoys and fixed assets from low-altitude UAV threats and can be deployed either as a standalone system or integrated within multi-layered air defense architectures.

NORINCO has emphasized the OW5-A50’s rapid response and autonomous targeting capabilities. According to company representatives, the system can shift to a new target approximately two seconds after engaging the previous one. The electro-optical and radar suite enables quick detection and classification of low, small, and slow aerial targets, including loitering munitions, fixed-wing drones, FPV UAVs, and potentially mortar rounds. The OW5-A50 is also equipped with electronic warfare components, including jamming systems capable of affecting drone communications and navigation at ranges exceeding ten kilometers. These functions allow for the disruption of UAV operations in addition to hard-kill engagements. The manufacturer has indicated that the laser beam can remain active for up to three minutes with an eight-second cooldown interval between firings, permitting sustained activity during high-frequency engagements. While NORINCO has stated that the system might eventually be adapted to counter mortars and helicopters, such claims have not been independently verified or demonstrated during live testing.

During the same demonstration, NORINCO presented a coordinated engagement simulation that included unmanned and manned platforms operating within an OODA (Observe–Orient–Decide–Act) loop. The BZK-005E medium-to-high-altitude long-endurance UAV was used to provide battlefield situational awareness and target detection. This UAV supports payloads such as synthetic aperture radar, optical pods, communication relays, and electronic warfare systems. Once intelligence was gathered, AI-based command systems generated strike plans. These involved the use of FL-300A anti-radiation loitering munitions to target activated radars and FL-60A rocket-launched drones to engage armored threats. Ground-based unmanned systems carried out additional attacks, including precision strikes from loitering munitions. Golden Eagle 500B unmanned helicopters were also used in combination with other systems to carry out saturation attacks. The OW5-A50 was integrated as a final-layer defense mechanism, working alongside air defense missiles and anti-aircraft guns to intercept low-level UAVs.

NORINCO has promoted the OW5 family internationally since 2024 through a series of exhibitions in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. The OW5-A50 appeared as a static exhibit during the 15th Zhuhai Airshow in November 2024 and was later shown at IDEX in Abu Dhabi in February 2025. The system is being offered for export under NORINCO’s broader "SkyShield" branding, which includes multiple directed energy and air defense products. The company has compared OW5-A50's cost-effectiveness favorably against kinetic systems, citing per-shot energy costs of only a few yuan. NORINCO claims that the system has undergone field testing simulating high drone activity, with promotional material citing over 110 drone engagements in cumulative evaluations. International defense publications have drawn parallels between the OW5-A50 and other high-energy laser systems such as Israel’s Iron Beam, which operates at an estimated 100 to 150 kilowatts. Although the Chinese system is rated at 50 kilowatts, analysts have noted its potential role in layered air defense and its compatibility with both fixed-site and mobile force protection operations.

The OW5-A50, the most powerful in the OW4 family, is equipped with a 50-kilowatt laser mounted on an 8×8 high-mobility truck chassis. It integrates a fire-control radar, an electro-optical targeting suite, and autonomous power generation, making it fully independent in operation. (Picture source: Norinco)

Other Chinese laser systems cited in connection with recent operational deployments include CETC’s Silent Hunter (also known as the Low-Altitude Laser Defense System), a 30-kilowatt platform first exhibited during the 2016 G20 summit and exported to Saudi Arabia in 2022. According to state media, Silent Hunter achieved multiple successful intercepts of UAVs launched by Houthi forces. Another CETC-developed system, the Tiandun laser, reportedly intercepted 21 UAVs and over 110 aerial targets during recent tests. Footage aired by state channels shows multiple Chinese laser systems intercepting drones with visible laser-induced damage. Reports also suggest that similar systems may have been exported to Iran and possibly Russia, where pro-Russian sources on Telegram have shared images of drones with laser burn marks attributed to Chinese equipment. The OW5-A50 is being positioned as a more advanced system within this progression, offering higher power output, longer sustained engagement, and improved integration with multi-domain operational concepts.

NORINCO representatives and affiliated analysts have highlighted the role of the OW5 series in addressing specific vulnerabilities in traditional air defense systems. The increasing prevalence of drone swarms, FPV attacks, and low-cost aerial threats has led to a reassessment of defense cost models. Traditional interceptors, such as surface-to-air missiles or rapid-firing cannons, are often costly per engagement and can be logistically demanding. The OW5-A50, with its modular structure and low engagement cost, is being offered as a supplement to conventional systems such as HQ-9 and HQ-16. The system's ability to function independently or with networked integration allows flexible deployment in border control missions, convoy defense, strategic facility protection, and urban environments. NORINCO’s export strategy focuses on countries with active drone threats and limited access to high-cost missile defense networks, especially in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Africa. The system’s design also reflects broader trends in Chinese military-industrial planning, including increased use of artificial intelligence for fire control, autonomous power generation, and compatibility with broader command-and-control networks.

The demonstration of the OW5-A50 on July 21, 2025, in Inner Mongolia marks a public milestone in China’s pursuit of operational directed energy capabilities for air defense. The system, which NORINCO has developed as part of a larger unmanned and counter-unmanned warfare concept, was presented as one element within a multi-phase exercise simulating border area control. It was shown operating alongside UAVs, loitering munitions, and missile defense platforms in a coordinated sequence of reconnaissance, target acquisition, strike, and terminal defense. Other systems on display included the VT4A main battle tank and SH16A 155mm wheeled howitzer, both shown within the same combined arms framework. While some claims about extended capabilities remain unverified, the system’s actual performance against drone targets was documented and broadcast by Chinese state media, providing visual evidence of its engagement process. Further observations and export activities will determine how the OW5-A50 is integrated into broader Chinese air defense planning and whether it gains traction in the international market for directed energy air defense systems.