Royal Navy to receive DragonFire laser system
The DragonFire laser-directed energy weapon destroyed an aerial target at the UK's Hebrides range. (Photo: Leonardo)
The UK Ministry of Defense (MoD) made the decision to accelerate the laser programme from the demonstrational stage to an operational laser weapon.
A Royal Navy warship will be equipped with the UK DragonFire laser weapon system by 2027.
According to the UK Navy, a burst of the high-intensity beam costs US$12.5 (£10) to operate and can target drones, aircrafts and missiles to help counter threats, such as those currently faced by navies inthe Red Sea.
DragonFire is being developed as a cooperation between MBDA, Leonardo UK, QinetiQ, and the UK MoD's Defence, Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), with the next stages including further live firing, manufacturing and installing the laser.
Related Articles
UK sets out naval Directed Energy Weapon roadmap
Dragonfire illuminates the way forward for UK laser weapons
UK DragonFire laser weapon completes successful test
As previously reported by Shephard, the laser-directed energy weapon (LDEW) system passed a significant milestone in January 2024 by successfully firing against aerial targets at the UK MoD's Hebrides Range off the northwest coast of Scotland.
The range of DragonFire has been classified, but the line-of-sight weapon can engage with any visible target, and the test firing was a first for the UK.
According to a BBC report, the UK defence secretary stated that the laser could also have "huge ramifications" for the war in Ukraine.
You may also like
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Is South Korea finally being taken seriously for Western submarine programmes?]()
Is South Korea finally being taken seriously for Western submarine programmes?
South Korean shipbuilders are beginning to make their mark beyond Asia, competing for major North American and European submarine programmes and becoming serious contenders on a global scale.
-
![AUKUS Pillar 2 could narrow focus to “four key areas” says UK official]()
AUKUS Pillar 2 could narrow focus to “four key areas” says UK official
Few concrete ideas have emerged so far on which “advanced capabilities” will be brought forward under Pillar 2 of the AUKUS partnership, but the Pentagon’s review of the programme could bring more clarity.
-
![Sweden’s decision on four new warships inches closer as it eyes UK, France and Spain]()
Sweden’s decision on four new warships inches closer as it eyes UK, France and Spain
Sweden decided last year that it wanted a significantly larger warship for its Luleå Class programme than originally planned, with three likely contenders that could potentially deliver within the country’s tight schedule.
-
![US Coast Guard prepares procurement of next-gen surface search radar]()
US Coast Guard prepares procurement of next-gen surface search radar
The NXSSR will replace five in-service capabilities and be the US Coast Guard’s primary collision avoidance system.
-
![MBDA-led DragonFire’s latest trials move the LDEW system closer to UK Navy integration]()
MBDA-led DragonFire’s latest trials move the LDEW system closer to UK Navy integration
The DragonFire lines up with other European laser-directed energy weapons being developed in collaboration with MBDA.
