China brings Star Wars to life with ‘laser AK-47’ that can set fire to targets a kilometre away - lithium battery pack

According to researchers involved in the project, China has developed a new portable laser weapon that can hit targets from nearly a mile away. The ZKZM-
The 500 laser assault rifle is classified as "non-
Fatal ", but produces an energy beam that is invisible to the naked eye, but can pass through the window, causing the human skin and tissue to" instantly carbonize ".
Ten years ago, its ability will be sci-
But a laser weapon scientist said the new device could "burn clothes in an instant . . . . . . If the fabric is flammable, the whole person will be lit ".
"The pain will be unbearable," according to researchers involved in prototype development and field testing of Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Machinery, Shaanxi Chinese Academy of Sciences.
This 15mm-caliber weapon weighs 3 kg, with AK-
47, with a range of 800, can be installed in cars, boats and aircraft.
It is now ready for mass production and the first batch of equipment may be used to counter
Terrorist Squad in Chinese armed police
In the event of a hostage incident, it can be used to fire at the target through a window and temporarily ban the kidnappers when other units enter to rescue their captive.
It can also be used for secret military operations.
The beam is powerful enough to burn through a gas tank and ignite fuel storage facilities at a military airport.
Because the laser has been tuned to an invisible frequency and it never makes a sound, "No one will know where the attack came from.
"It looks like an accident," said another researcher . ".
Due to the sensitivity of the project, scientists asked not to be named.
The rifle will feature a rechargeable lithium battery similar to a smartphone.
It can launch more than 1,000 "lenses", each lasting no more than two seconds.
The prototype was manufactured by a technology company owned by Xi'an Research Institute.
A company representative confirmed that the company is currently looking for a partner with a weapons production license or a partner in the security or defense industry to start mass production
Scale production at the cost of 100,000 yuan per unit.
Given the potential for abuse, the design and production of these devices will be strictly monitored and the only customer will be the Chinese army and police.
Last month, a technical document containing basic information on weapons was released on the national public service platform for civil servants
Military integration is a website operated by the central government to promote cooperation between the military and commercial sectors.
Chengdu Hengan Police equipment manufacturing company, a major hardware supplier to Chinese law enforcement agencies, also released a laser "Machine Gun" last month ".
According to the company's product manual, the weapon has a range of 500 and can fire hundreds of guns every time it is charged.
Just a decade ago, such a powerful laser weapon was part of science fiction.
In 2009, the United States tried to design a hand-held laser gun, resulting in something that "works only for nudist" because its beam is too weak to even penetrate the shirt.
But in 2015, Beijing took 2 yuan (rm1.
Funding the development of compact, powerful laser devices-an unprecedented budget in the field, has also raised concerns in the United States and other Western countries.
In recent years, American troops fighting in strategically important areas such as the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea have complained that they are being increasingly attacked by Chinese military bases or vessels by laser that look like fishing boats.
Last month, the US government formally complained that,
A laser device launched by China at a naval base in Djibouti has caused minor injuries to the eyes of two military pilots.
Wang Zhimin, deputy researcher at the Center for Laser Physics and Technology Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, recent technological advances mean scientists are able to develop smaller, more powerful devices like mobile phone manufacturers.
"This is no longer a science fiction novel.
"They are already the facts of life," he said . ".
In the early days, due to technical constraints, it was necessary to launch several beams so that they could gather on one target and cause any damage.
They also need accurate remote reading in order to have the opportunity to work.
In addition, the only equipment available is the one with slow speed, large volume, heavy weight, short range, requiring a large amount of power supply.
But the latest equipment fired only one beam, causing as much damage as a large truck
The installed laser cannon is fine.
However, these developments have increased the risk that weapons are more likely to fall into the hands of criminals and terrorists who can use their destructive capabilities, such as in the absence of detection.
Wang, who was not involved in the Xi'an project, warned that allowing the proliferation of these weapons could pose a threat to all countries.
There is no specific international agreement to regulate the development or use of such laser weapons.
The United Nations blinding laser weapons protocol, launched in 1980 and signed by more than 100 countries, focused on early weapons and banned the use of weapons that may result in permanent visual loss.
Documents on the Chinese government's website classify K. K. zm. 500 as a “non-
Lethal weapons ", which means they are considered less likely to kill a living target than explicitly designed weapons such as guns.
The laser can't kill the target at once, but if it takes long enough for a person, the weapon will start burning a hole in their body and passing through them like a scalpel.
Researchers stress that scientists in this field generally believe that it is inhumane to use more powerful weapons to "carbon" a living person.
On the contrary, the document emphasizes
Deadly application of technology.
For example, it says law enforcement can crack down on "illegal protests" by setting banners on fire from far away ".
The document also said the protest leader's goal could be to set fire to their clothes or hair, meaning they lost the "rhythm and persuasiveness of the speech ".
But a police officer in Beijing said he would prefer to keep in touch with more traditional crowds.
Control methods such as tear gas, rubber bullets or electric firing guns.
"Laser burns leave permanent scars," he said . ".
He said it would be a "terrible sight" that could cause panic or turn peaceful protests into riots. —