China builds ‘laser’ assault rifle

Assuming the article is accurate, the Chinese have themselves a man-portable laser weapon that is itself an actual weapon. I.E. the laser beam will hurt you directly, not just direct a laser guided present to your location. The laser is said to be non-lethal (unsurprising, given just how difficult a truly lethal laser weapon would be), but it is said to be powerful enough to set your clothes on fire and create indescribable pain. Supposed to be used for ‘anti-terrorist” duty, but I suspect it’ll see service disrupting protests and irritating the frak out of boat and aircraft pilots in the South China Sea.

Unrealistic: the  gunner here is operating without eye protecting. Have fun going blind when the laser reflects right back into your optics, buddy…

The basic concept is probably nothing new:

I imagine the rise of such weapons, used to blind pilots, will lead to increased use of drones and other robots. So, soon, cyborgs stalking the battlefields with phased plasma rifles in the 40 watt range…