BEIJING: China claimed on Monday it has developed a highly accurate laser weapon system that can shoot down small aircraft and drones within seconds.

This important development opens up the possibility of the weapon being exported to China’s close ally, Pakistan , which has been battling drone attacks by the United States, informed sources said.

China's laser weapons' programme is already a cause of worry for the western nations.

But a senior Chinese official said that the laser weapon will actually be used against terrorist using drones, and for checking the growing menace of mapping agencies.

These agencies use low-flying aircrafts to map areas that the government does not want revealed.

"Intercepting such drones is usually the work of snipers and helicopters, but their success rate is not as high and mistakes with accuracy can result in unwanted damage," Yi Jinsong, a manager with China's Jiuyuan Hi-Tech Equipment Corp , a firm under the China Academy of Engineering Physics told the official Xinhua news agency.

He said that small-scale, unmanned drones were relatively cheap and easy to use, making them a likely choice for terrorists.

The weapon, which can be installed on vehicles, shot down more than 30 drones in a recent test with a "100 per cent success rate" the CAEP statement said.

The new weapon has a range of two kilometres, which makes it capable of shooting down "various small aircraft" within five seconds of locating the target, the statement further said.

The weapon is expected to "play a key role in ensuring security during major events in urban areas" and address concerns on unlicensed mapping activities, the official Xinhua news agency said.

It is effective against aircraft flying at up to 50 metres per second up to a maximum altitude of 500 metres, Xinhua said.

The CAEP said it is developing similar laser security systems with greater power and range, according to Xinhua.