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Full system of Chinese shipborne air defense weapons, including LY-1 laser, displayed at military parade

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun, Fan Wei and Liang Rui Published: Sep 03, 2025 11:51 AM

Forming a full system, four types of shipborne air defense weapons were displayed at the V-Day military parade on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, showcasing the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) warships' diverse defense measures against different incoming targets.

A military affairs expert told the Global Times that the four types of shipborne air defense equipment showcased this time have distinctive characteristics. When used in combination, they can provide air defense coverage in the far, medium, and close ranges, defeating the saturation attack of various anti-ship weapons, and build a complete protection system for maritime combat units.

The four types of shipborne air defense weapons reviewed at the parade are the HHQ-9C, the HQ-16C, a close-range air defense system and the LY-1 shipborne laser weapon. They form a multi-dimensional air defense system that connects close and far ranges. The shipborne laser weapon, which made its public debut, has outstanding advantages of precise destruction and continuous strike.

"The HHQ-9C shipborne air defense missile mainly counter attacks from high-altitude, high-speed and high-value anti-ship weapons such as ballistic missiles," military affairs expert Zhang Xuefeng told the Global Times. He said that modern anti-ship missiles tend to become hypersonic-capable, and the HHQ-9 could intercept them, with higher maritime antiballistic missile efficiency.

"As a long-range maritime air defense missile, the HHQ-9C's size is well controlled, so more of them can be fitted into Chinese warships' vertical launch systems, providing more munition reserves," Zhang said.

As a medium-range shipborne air defense missile, the HQ-16C could complement the HHQ-9C, Zhang said. Since the size of the HQ-16C is small, it can be loaded into vertical launch systems of frigates in large numbers and effectively intercept subsonic and supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles, he said.

A type of close-range shipborne air defense missile was appeared at the parade. Zhang said that in the whole shipborne air defense system, this type of missile picks up what is left. It also has the ability to intercept supersonic anti-ship missiles. "The combination of these shipborne air defense weapons can effectively intercept various types of anti-ship missile attacks and resist saturation attacks from anti-ship missiles," said the expert.

A highlight is the LY-1 shipborne laser weapon that made its first public appearance. Zhang said that on ships, the LY-1 has sufficient space for power units, meaning that it could have higher power, enabling it to be capable of intercepting not only attacks from unmanned equipment, but also anti-ship missiles, with very low cost for each interception.

"As a type of laser weapon, the LY-1 can also effectively avoid the problem of time lag between the target lock-on of shipborne fire control radar and the actual firing of traditional air defense weapons. It also effectively avoids the problem of large dispersion ratio of traditional shipborne close-in guns," Zhang said. He believes that the LY-1 can truly achieve "aiming equals locking on, firing equals hitting," with very high interception accuracy.

In addition, shipborne laser weapons can effectively damage the optical sensors of enemy weapons and equipment, and their emergence will truly change the rules of maritime warfare, "said Zhang.