640-3 Project - Laser

Of the three kinds of ABM anti-missile engineering, the laser subproject was named "640-3 Project". The Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics Research Institute undertooke the project intended to produce a high-energy lasers, used to intercept ballistic missiles. In 1964, the Shanghai institute set the high-power solid-state lasers as the main goal, and started neodymium glass laser system development. By the mid-1970s, "640-3 Project" laser anti-missile research had made important achievements, and was given a major scientific achievement award by the National Defense Science and Technology Commission. The project on the history of the development of high-energy laser technology contribution can not be ignored, as it took Chinese laser technology level to a higher level.

Their results mainly in:

1. the size of the project built a large diameter (120 mm) oscillation -amplified laser system, the maximum output energy of 320,000 joules; improved beam quality after 30,000 joules.
2. realization of the system technology integration, successfully carried out targeting experiments, an indoor 10 meters Breakdown 80 mm aluminum target, Outdoor 2 km away from the breakdown 0.2 mm aluminum target, and systematic study of the biological effects of intense laser radiation and material damage mechanisms.
3. first suggested the light of the laser light loss system itself phenomena and mechanisms.
4. first in-depth knowledge and understanding of the importance of the laser beam quality and physical connotation, using a series of improved beam quality and innovative technology.
5. laser components and supporting technology breakthrough to improve.
6. to cultivate and foster a number of technical cadres.

Thanks to a good foundation before, now China has become the second after the United States have developed independently, building a new generation of high-power laser driver capable laser cannon developed countries, and making some progress. But the final judgment was that the thermal effect was technically a fundamental technical obstacle to a laser system. In 1976 the program was halted.

But the "640-3 Project" so that our laser technology research level on a higher level. China's optical industry major academic founder, pioneer and organizational leaders, academicians Wang Daheng 1993 was recalled, said: "After a long exploration, We believe that the laser is not suitable for weapons, but it uses cutting-edge science and technology to go up, we can say that the optical aspects of the research today has come to the United States in front. "

It should be added that the official information in the "laser anti missiles" is not known to everyone. More information has yet to be made public.

China maintained interest in a “larger class of weapons” or what it calls xin gainian wuqi (“new concept weapons”). Within that category are “high power lasers, high power microwaves, rail guns, coil guns, [and] particle beam weapons,” according to a 1999 report. The 2005 Annual Report to Congress on China’s military prowess asserted that China researched “ground-based laser ASAT [anti-satellite] weapons” and recorded that the Defense Intelligence Agency believed “Beijing eventually could develop a laser weapon capable of damaging or destroying satellites.” In 2006, a hullabaloo arose over the supposed blinding of a U.S. space satellite by a Chinese laser. The event was later “clarified” when the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office confirmed that a Chinese laser “illuminated” a U.S. satellite that year.