In a dramatic twist that underscores the rapidly evolving nature of modern conflict, a video surfaced just a day before Ukraine’s audacious drone strike devastated key Russian airfields, revealing what appears to be a Chinese-origin laser anti-drone system Silent Hunter was actively deployed by Russian forces.
The footage, first posted on a pro-Russian military Telegram channel and widely shared on social media, offers a rare glimpse into how Silent Hunter might be reshaping the battlefield—and hints at China’s deepening, though covert, military ties with Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Chinese Laser Technology in Russian Hands: The Silent Hunter Emerges
The video opens with Russian special forces, identified as the Nomad squad, operating a sophisticated laser weapon system. The laser platform is shown locking onto steel targets and subsequently shooting down unidentified drones in mid-flight, suggesting operational capability rather than mere demonstration.
Known as the Low-Altitude Laser Defending System (LASS) or by its evocative codename “Silent Hunter,” this turret-mounted system reportedly boasts a 10 kW laser, optical sensors, and precision targeting capabilities. Developed by China’s Academy of Engineering Physics, the system is designed specifically to neutralize drones—a threat that has emerged as a game-changer in Ukraine’s conflict.
Military experts believe this deployment could mark the first documented use of a Chinese laser anti-drone weapon on an active front, providing Russia with a cutting-edge, cost-effective defense mechanism. Unlike expensive missile interceptors, lasers offer near-instantaneous engagement of small targets like drones at a fraction of the cost—an appealing advantage given the deluge of UAVs Kyiv has unleashed.
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Echoes of Tehran: Is This the Shen Nung Laser System?
While the exact model remains unconfirmed, analysts have noted striking similarities between the system in Russia and the Chinese Shen Nung 3000/5000 system previously observed in Iran. That system was famously deployed during heightened tensions around Israel, hinting at China’s expanding laser weapons exports to strategic partners aligned against the West. Silent Hunter is variation of this system.
Fabian Hinz, defense analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, highlighted that the Russian variant “strongly resembles” the Shen Nung laser, though with possible sensor modifications. The Shen Nung platform is known for its 5 km radar detection range and laser beams capable of dazzling, blinding, or outright destroying drones at distances up to 1.5 km.
If confirmed, Russia’s use of such Chinese technology could reflect a critical shift in its counter-drone strategy—a move towards sophisticated energy weapons at a time when conventional air defenses struggle against Ukraine’s low-cost drone swarm tactics.
Why Laser Weapons Matter Now: Cost, Precision, and Stealth
The growing interest in laser-based countermeasures is no accident. Traditional air defense missiles, costing millions per shot, are an unsustainable counter to the inexpensive drones Ukraine deploys in massive numbers. Lasers like Silent Hunter offer a stealthy, almost invisible shield capable of incinerating targets without collateral damage—an invaluable trait in the complex, civilian-heavy battlefields of Eastern Europe.
The Telegram post accompanying the video hints at a transformation in Russian military thinking. “Combat lasers were once dismissed as costly toys,” it said, “but facing new threats in Ukraine, they’ve become an effective tool to destroy Ukrainian UAVs.”
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Russia itself has invested in its own laser programs, with systems like Persevet and Zadira reportedly undergoing field tests. The Pantsir air defense system’s planned laser upgrade also signals a future where energy weapons form a core part of layered defense.
The Timing: A Day Before Ukraine’s ‘Pearl Harbor’
The appearance of the Silent Hunter video is chillingly prescient. The following day, Ukraine launched ‘Operation Spiderweb,’ a devastating drone strike that reportedly destroyed nearly 40 Russian aircraft and inflicted estimated damages worth $7 billion. The attack, carried out from deep inside Russian territory using mobile launch trucks, was swiftly dubbed Russia’s “Pearl Harbor” by pro-Kremlin military bloggers.
This bold Ukrainian strike exposed vulnerabilities in Russia’s air defenses and cast doubt on the effectiveness of newly deployed counter-drone systems like the Silent Hunter—if that system was indeed in active service.
China’s Denial and the Shadow of Military Cooperation
Beijing has categorically denied any official arms transfers to Russia, maintaining a public stance of neutrality and peace promotion. Yet, multiple Ukrainian intelligence sources and Western analysts continue to accuse China of covertly supplying critical military materials, including gunpowder, electronics, and manufacturing equipment vital for drone production.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and top intelligence officials have repeatedly warned that Chinese components form a backbone for many Russian drones, highlighting a murky grey zone where civilian dual-use technology crosses into the realm of war materiel.
The presence of a high-value Chinese laser weapon Silent Hunter in Russian hands—if verified—would represent a significant escalation in this shadow cooperation, potentially marking a new chapter in Sino-Russian military collaboration that skirts official declarations and global scrutiny.