China displays 838-pound laser weapon to arm J-36 fighter jet with missile shield

China may be developing a high-energy laser weapon for its J-36 fighter, adding a potential new layer of missile defense. An AVIC research institute revealed a fighter laser tracking and aiming system at a Beijing defense expo. The display showed the system beside an image of the large tailless aircraft linked to China’s sixth-generation fighter program. The system weighs less than 838 pounds, according to information shown at the China International Defence Electronics Exhibition. The event ran from September 15 to 17. Several technical figures on the display remained hidden. One power figure appeared as “*00kW,” which could indicate output of at least 100 kilowatts. The poster also obscured the system’s dynamic tracking accuracy. That measurement matters for an airborne laser because even tiny aiming errors can move a beam away from its target. J-36 gets laser Chinese military aviation researcher Andreas Rupprecht identified the aircraft shown with the system as the J-36. The three-engine aircraft first appeared over Chengdu in December 2024. Defense analyst Mark Cazalet reached a similar conclusion after examining the display. He said the J-36 likely has enough space, weight capacity and power for a high-energy laser. Large aircraft can provide more room for equipment, cooling hardware and power systems. That could make directed-energy weapons practical on platforms beyond fighters. Bombers, transports and airborne early-warning aircraft could also potentially use similar technology. Such aircraft could use lasers for self-defense against incoming threats. The 838-pound figure still leaves a major question unanswered. It is unclear which components AVIC included within that weight. Cazalet said the figure could encompass the laser source, beam director, and cooling system. The display did not provide a detailed equipment breakdown or electrical power requirement. An airborne laser faces demanding engineering conditions. Aircraft vibration, turbulence, and rapid maneuvers can constantly disturb the beam. The tracking system must compensate for those movements and maintain an extremely precise aim. That becomes harder as the aircraft and target move at high speed. Cazalet said physical damage would generally require relatively short engagement distances. Lasers could potentially reach farther when attacking or dazzling optical sensors. That makes missile defense one possible mission. A laser could attack an incoming missile or interfere with its seeker before impact. The concept has particular relevance to US airpower. The United States is developing long-range air-to-air weapons including the AIM-174B, AIM-260 and AIM-424. China has investigated airborne laser weapons for years. PLA procurement notices in 2020 sought an airborne laser attack pod and related control software. Chinese researchers have also examined laser tracking from moving aircraft. A 2021 study used transport-aircraft flight data to model the effects of movement and vibration. The US Air Force encountered similar problems with its SHiELD program. The effort explored pod-mounted lasers designed to protect fighters from incoming missiles. SHiELD ended in 2024 without mounting a laser pod on a fighter test aircraft. Program officials had previously identified turbulence, wind and aircraft maneuvers as major challenges. AVIC has also reported testing other directed-energy tracking systems. An AVIC publication described a 2024 trial that maintained a drone lock through clouds, birds and increasing distance. Those tests do not establish that the J-36 carries a laser weapon. No public evidence currently shows the fighter flying with such a system. The Beijing display does, however, offer a rare look at China’s progress toward airborne directed-energy weapons. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Aamir is a seasoned tech journalist with experience at Exhibit Magazine, Republic World, and PR Newswire. With a deep love for all things tech and science, he has spent years decoding the latest innovations and exploring how they shape industries, lifestyles, and the future of humanity.