In the United Kingdom, the high-power laser (HEL) system Dragonfire has successfully undergone a new round of firing trials.
Simultaneously, MBDA UK, which developed the system alongside Leonardo UK and QinetiQ, as well as DSTL, the British Defense Research and Development Department, has received a contract worth £316 million—about €358 million—from the British Ministry of Defense (UK MoD) for the supply of new operational systems to the Royal Navy starting from 2027.
In the recent trial at the UK MoD’s firing range in the Hebrides, Dragonfire was tested in engaging drones capable of flying up to 650 km/h. This marked the first test in the UK where a high-power laser system has traced, targeted and knocked out such drones over the horizon, demonstrating Dragonfire’s full operational capabilities.
Characteristics of the system
The UK MoD’s interest in Dragonfire lies in the cost of a single engagement—just £10—a bargain compared to the cost of a surface-to-air missile or a typical conventional artillery projectile. The system has demonstrated the ability to hit a target of a 1-pound coin at a distance of 1 kilometer.
DragonFire is a high-power laser weapon capable of striking small targets like drones from distances of more than 5 kilometers, thus making it a C-UAS system.
New technology priority, including Dragonfire, for British Defense
The Dragonfire program is one of the priorities of British Defense as affirmed in the Strategic Defence Review (SDR); the first operational system will be installed on a Type 45 destroyer or Daring class (the British equivalent of Forbin and Chevalier Paul of the Horizon class) by 2027, a solid five years ahead of the original schedule.
This fast-tracking reveals the utmost urgency of the Royal Navy in seeking effective solutions to UAV/UAS/loitering munition threats given recent events in the Black and Red Seas, and the maturity level achieved by the system.
Moreover, UK MoD plans to expand Dragonfire deployment to the British Army for sensitive land target defense with a dedicated version in the future.
Source: United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense (UK MoD)
Photo credit: @MBDA UK
