IDEX 2017: China Poly reveals Silent Hunter fibre-optic laser system

Richard D Fisher Jr, Abu Dhabi – IHS Jane’s Defence Weekly
20 February 2017

China’s Poly Technologies defence marketing company has used the IDEX show held in Abu Dhabi from 19-23 February to reveal its Silent Hunter fibre-optic laser air defence system.

A full-scale version of the Silent Hunter’s optical systems was displayed during IDEX. (Patrick Allen/IHS Markit)

Poly officials told Jane’s that the system was used to help defend the 4-5 September 2016 G-20 Summit in Hangzhou, China, and is a more advanced version of its Low Altitude Laser Defending System (LASS) that was displayed later that month at the AAD defence show in South Africa.

According to its brochure, LASS has a maximum power of 30 kw and a range of 4,000 m. A Poly official said the Silent Hunter is capable of power levels greater than 30 kw, but fewer than 100 kw.

Whereas LASS is designed to defend against large numbers of slow unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), Silent Hunter’s laser is credited with being able to penetrate five layers of 2 mm steel at 800 m, or 5 mm of steel at 1,000 m.

Poly is in the process of integrating a mm-wave radar to supplement its infrared and optical search and track system.

While Silent Hunter is not able to defend against mortar shells or other small artillery, Poly officials said they are developing more powerful versions as well as a version for naval applications.

In its fixed and mobile versions, Silent Hunter comprises a separate medium-truck size power unit and a similar sized equipment unit for the laser. Poly officials said that Silent Hunter is too heavy to develop into an airborne laser as currently configured.

The officials added that potential foreign customers are showing active interest in the system, although there have been no orders as yet.

【环球网军事2月23日报道记者 徐璐明】

2月19日,为期5天的第十三届阿布扎比国际防务展在阿联酋首都阿布扎比国家展览中心开幕,中国8家军贸公司以“中国防务”国家展团形式参展,展品涵盖了飞机、导弹武器系统、坦克、船舰、无人机、雷达等多个领域。在中国参展商中,保利科技有限公司展出的“寂静狩猎者”是最为吸引眼球的武器之一。这是一款我国自主研发的低空激光防空系统,这也是该武器的车载机动型首次亮相。

据英国《简氏防务周刊》网站报道,在2016年召开的杭州G20峰会期间,“寂静狩猎者”防空系统就已投入使用。报道称,根据现场发放的宣传册所述,“寂静狩猎者”的激光器标准输出功率为30千瓦,最大射程高达4000米。该激光器主要用途是拦截低空无人机,其激光器威力据称可在800米距离击穿5层2毫米厚的钢板,或是在1000米距离可击穿5毫米厚钢板。

《简氏》记者在现场看到,“寂静狩猎者”防空系统由中型卡车大小的设备单元构成,官方称因体积和重量限制还不能作为机载使用。不过,多国的潜在客户已对此武器系统表现出浓厚兴趣。

据环球网记者了解,“寂静狩猎者”低空激光防空系统利用激光束应对无人机或是航空器,具有响应速度快、拦截命中率高、保障简单等优点,在安全性和多目标应对能力方面都有显著优势。“寂静狩猎者”集成了搜索、跟踪、打击和毁伤评估,从而实现对目标的搜索捕获、锁定跟踪以及击落。
“寂静狩猎者”低空激光防空系统相比传统的防空武器,具有以下特点:首先是响应速度快,能够做到“指哪打哪”;其次是拦截命中率高和多目标打击能力,能够在6秒内完成目标的切换和瞄准;再有就是低成本,只消耗电能,一次发射功率成本低于一美元,同时也不使用弹药,免去了弹药运输存储等麻烦;还有附带损害小,不会形成大量碎片。

目前“寂静狩猎者”提供了4种功率模式,分别为5kW、10kW、20kW、30kW,拦截半径从200米到4000米递增,而对目标的捕获范围在4000米以上。能够拦截直径在2米内、飞行速度小于60米/秒的目标。该低空激光防空系统有两种版本,分别为车载移动式和固定式。车载式可以安装在6X6轮式底盘上,固定式可以分离成每个大小不超过200千克的独立部分,便于运输或是安装在建筑物顶部。

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