China has unveiled its OW5-A50 mobile system, a 50 kW laser designed to neutralize short-range drones from an 8×8 truck.
China officially unveiled the OW5-A50 mobile laser defense system, developed by NORINCO Group, in a promotional video released in July 2025. Mounted on an 8×8 all-terrain chassis, this system is based on directed energy technology, designed to intercept slow-flying drones at low altitudes, such as the Shahed models used in several conflicts. With a power output of 50 kilowatts, the OW5-A50 is energy self-sufficient and is part of a family of lasers that also includes the OW5-A10 and OW5-A30 versions. It was recently exhibited at defense shows in the Middle East with a view to export. While its exact capabilities against heavier targets remain to be confirmed, it opens up a new avenue in the fight against light aerial systems.
A mobile laser designed to counter tactical drones
The OW5-A50 system is based on a simple approach: combining all-terrain mobility, automated detection capability, and medium-power directed energy to quickly neutralize small drones.
The configuration is based on a heavy 8×8 chassis, compatible with difficult deployment conditions. This vehicle transports and stabilizes all subsystems: laser, sensors, power supply, and cooling. Its mobility allows it to protect temporary areas such as forward military bases, energy installations, and logistics convoys.
The 50-kilowatt onboard laser is based on a modular architecture derived from the OW5-A10 (10 kW) and OW5-A30 (30 kW) versions. At this power, the thermal melting of drone composite materials is possible on targets less than 2 kilometers away, depending on atmospheric conditions and the type of drone. Destruction is achieved by localized heating of a vulnerable point (engine, sensor, battery), causing the vehicle to lose control or explode.
This approach differs fundamentally from kinetic interception systems: no ammunition, no fragmentation, no risk of collateral damage on the ground. The system operates silently, enabling stealth operations in close defense contexts.
The development of such mobile laser platforms responds to an operational reality: conventional ground-to-air defenses are expensive and ill-suited to saturation attacks by low-cost drones. With laser systems such as the OW5-A50, the aim is to reduce the cost per interception from tens of thousands of dollars (missile) to a few dozen dollars per shot (energy consumed).
Energy autonomy and modular architecture
The OW5-A50 system stands out for its complete energy autonomy, i.e., its ability to operate without an external power source. This autonomy is based on the integration of an onboard generator, probably based on a reinforced diesel engine, combined with an energy storage and conversion system.
High-energy lasers require a continuous and stable power supply, as well as an efficient cooling system. At 50 kW, each laser pulse heats the optical components significantly. The OW5-A50 therefore incorporates active cooling, either by forced air or circulating liquid. This feature is crucial to enable repetitive use at high firing rates (several shots per minute) without component degradation.
The modular structure of the OW5 family facilitates industrial standardization. NORINCO offers several power variants, each calibrated for different types of operations:
- OW5-A10: point protection against micro-drones (< 1.5 kg),
- OW5-A30: defense of static installations against tactical drones,
- OW5-A50: engagement of multiple targets, enhanced mobility and endurance.
This hierarchical approach allows the energy capacity to be adapted to the operational environment. An air base in an urban area will not have the same needs as an isolated post in the mountains or a logistics port.
NORINCO aims to actively export this range. The system has been presented at trade shows in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt, three countries interested in compact solutions against drone threats. However, integration into defense doctrines will depend on real-world testing, which China does not systematically report.
Performance still uncertain against complex threats
Despite NORINCO’s promises, the exact capabilities of the OW5-A50 against targets other than drones remain to be proven. The manufacturer mentions the possibility of intercepting mortars or helicopters, but these claims have not yet been publicly demonstrated.
Neutralizing a Shahed-136 or Lancet drone, with a wingspan of approximately 2.5 to 3 meters and flying at 100-120 km/h, does not require the same power or precision as a mortar shell in ballistic flight. The latter requires a reaction time of less than 2 seconds, early detection, and instantaneous concentration of energy on a very small impact point.
For this type of fast-moving target, lasers must have adaptive optics, high-frequency automated tracking, and close coordination with a three-dimensional radar system. However, there is currently no indication that the OW5-A50 incorporates this level of sophistication.
As for helicopters, the issue is more technical: the structures are armored, the impact surface is mobile and often protected by optical countermeasures. At this stage, no 50 kW ground-based laser has demonstrated the ability to shoot down an armed helicopter in flight.
These uncertainties do not negate the tactical value of the system. They limit its field of application, which remains focused on short-range (0.5 to 2 km) anti-drone warfare and unarmored targets. It is in this context that the OW5-A50 is a potentially useful tool to complement the lower layers of an integrated air defense system.
A competitive and rapidly evolving market
The development of OW5-A50-type systems comes at a time of growing global drone threats, particularly in conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. The market for anti-UAV countermeasures (C-UAS) is growing rapidly: it was estimated at $1.3 billion in 2023 and could reach $5 billion by 2030.
In this landscape, China is seeking to establish itself as a supplier of directed energy systems against the United States (Raytheon, Lockheed Martin), Israel (Rafael with the Iron Beam system), and Turkey (Aselsan). The Chinese strategy is based on:
- Competitive cost, with an estimated price of between €5 million and €8 million per complete system,
- Export flexibility, particularly to countries not aligned with NATO,
- Mass production capacity, accelerated by centralized industrialization.
However, the credibility of the offer will depend on real demonstrations, operational references and logistical guarantees. NORINCO will have to prove its ability to deliver, train, maintain and integrate these systems into existing radar and C2 architectures.
Interested countries will also have to assess interoperability risks. The use of Chinese equipment poses technical challenges for armies that already use Western solutions. In addition, cybersecurity considerations are now part of the specifications for sensitive military purchases.
The success or failure of the OW5-A50 on the international market will therefore depend as much on its technical performance as on the geopolitical parameters in which it operates.
War Wings Daily is an independant magazine.