Chinese engineers develop drone-killing laser weapon

A laser weapon has been created in China that can down slow-moving drones in close proximity.

According to a report in the China Daily Newspaper, Chinese engineers have successfully developed a laser weapon capable of destroying robotic drones.

The weapon, named the Low Altitude Sentinel System, can detect any of the small aircraft flying within a 1.2-mile radius and can shoot them down within 5-seconds of detection.

However, in order for the laser to be able to target the drones they must be travelling slower than 110mph, and flying no higher than 500 metres.

Currently there is not any video footage of the new weapon in action, but the reports claims that during a test it successfully shot down more than 30 drones.

It's a little unclear why China would need a drone-killing machine, but China's Xinhua News Agency suggest that the laser could be installed onto military vehicles and used to help 'help shoot down drones during events in urban areas'.

The drone's creators, China Jiuyuan Hi-Tech Equipment Corp, aren't resting on their laurels as already they are in the process of developing a much more powerful version of their weapon.

The company are quoted as saying: "Intercepting such drones is usually the work of snipers and helicopters, but their success rate is not as high and mistakes with accuracy can result in unwanted damage."

As well as having a higher success rate over man-controlled weapons, the laser will also be cheaper to run, and there is no limit to how long or how frequent the laser can be used.