Chinese Destroyer Fired Laser Weapon At U.S. Surveillance Aircraft

A Chinese destroyer fired a weapons-grade laser at a US surveillance aircraft, US Navy says

• A Chinese destroyer lased a US Navy P-8A surveillance aircraft with a weapons-grade laser in the Pacific last week, the US Navy said Thursday.
• A Pacific Fleet spokeswoman told Insider that the weapon appeared to be part of the Chinese warship's close-in weapons system.
• "Weapons-grade lasers could potentially cause serious harm to aircrew and mariners, as well as ship and aircraft systems," a PACFLEET statement read, calling the incident "unsafe and unprofessional."

A Chinese destroyer used a weapons-grade laser to target a US Navy P-8A surveillance aircraft flying above the Pacific last week, US Pacific Fleet said Thursday.

The People's Liberation Army Navy destroyer's actions were "unsafe and unprofessional," PACFLEET said in a statement following the incident, which occurred around 380 miles from Guam, where the US has a significant military presence.

The laser appeared to be part of the destroyer's close-in weapon system, a PACFLEET spokeswoman told Insider. 

"The laser, which was not visible to the naked eye, was captured by a sensor onboard the P-8A," PACLFEET said. "Weapons-grade lasers could potentially cause serious harm to aircrew and mariners, as well as ship and aircraft systems."