UK launches DragonFire – the laser weapon capable of slicing through drones

The DragonFire system, developed through a collaborative effort between industry leaders MBDA, Leonardo, QinetiQ, and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), marks a significant leap forward in advanced military laser technology.

The DragonFire laser, equipped with UK technology, demonstrated its capability to deliver a high-power laser over classified ranges, showcasing pinpoint accuracy equivalent to hitting a £1 coin from a kilometre away. 

Laser-directed energy weapons operate at the speed of light, employing a concentrated beam of light to penetrate the target, resulting in structural failure.

The laser's line-of-sight nature enables engagement with any visible target, and during the trial, it successfully destroyed incoming drones from multiple positions miles away.

The DragonFire system operates at a fraction of the cost of traditional missile systems, with the expense of firing the laser for 10 seconds equivalent to using a regular heater for just an hour – typically less than £10 per shot.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps emphasised the potential of the system, stating, "This type of cutting-edge weaponry has the potential to revolutionises the battlespace by reducing the reliance on expensive ammunition, while also lowering the risk of collateral damage."

The DragonFire system, a result of a £100 million joint investment by the Ministry of Defence and industry partners, has been developed to enhance layered air defence capabilities in both land and maritime domains. 

The development of the DragonFire weapon system has been made possible through a collaborative investment of £100 million from both the Ministry of Defence and the industrial sector. The latest successful trial builds upon a series of accomplishments, including the precise tracking of moving air and sea targets at long range.

As both the Army and Royal Navy consider incorporating this technology into their future air defence capabilities, the MOD recently announced plans to fund a multi-million-pound program for the transition of the DragonFire technology from the research environment to the battlefield. The development is a testament to the UK's commitment to advancing game-changing technologies, ensuring its armed forces maintain a battle-winning edge in a rapidly evolving security landscape.

Expanding upon these research findings, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has recently disclosed its plans to allocate funding to a multi-million-pound programme aimed at advancing the transition of this technology from the research phase to active deployment on the battlefield. Both the Army and Royal Navy are now considering incorporating this technology into their future air defence capabilities.