Chinese military could soon disable sensors on enemy missiles using suitcase-sized device after 'groundbreaking' study on ultrafast lasers

A breakthrough in laser technology may give the Chinese military the ability to blind the sensors on enemy missiles or even satellites using a portable device the size of a suitcase, rather than the large container-sized version typically found on warships.

A research team led by Professor Li Zhiyuan with the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Physics reported that they had reduced the sophisticated mechanism that generates a high-frequency laser down to a single piece of crystal. 

This means the huge ultrafast laser generator that is used to render heat-seeking missiles useless, and which can be found on warships today, could be shrunk to the size of hand baggage and mounted on aircraft, tanks or even soldiers.

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"This is a groundbreaking achievement," said a professor at Beijing’s Tsinghua University, who requested that his name not be used due to the sensitivity of the issue. 

"Nobody has generated a laser at such a high frequency on a single piece of crystal before,” added the professor, who was not involved in the research.

“Their technology will significantly simplify the process of ultrafast laser production and reduce the size of relevant devices."