Russian forces have begun using the Chinese-made Silent Hunter laser system to destroy Ukrainian drones, according to video footage shared by a pro-Russian Telegram channel.
The video shows the Russian Kochevnik special operations unit operating the system from inside a vehicle, followed by scenes of drones, identified by the Telegram channel SPZ Vodohrai as Ukrainian Shchedryk, Skywalker X8, and Distractor models, catching fire mid-air.
The video concludes by showing recovered drone fragments marked with burns that suggest laser engagement.
Russia is using the Chinese-made Silent Hunter laser air defense system to shoot down Ukrainian drones, according to footage shared by Russian military sources.
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— Militarnyi (@militarnyi) June 1, 2025
Silent Hunter, a 30-kilowatt fiber-optic laser system developed by the Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics, includes radar and optical sensors for targeting drones at ranges up to five kilometers.
The same system has previously been identified in Iranian service, reflecting the growing military cooperation between Russia, China, and Iran. Its deployment comes shortly after reports of Israel’s Iron Beam laser being used in combat.
