UK’s DragonFire Laser Shreds Drones Flying Twice the Speed of F1 Cars
DragonFire is a UK laser system that destroys drones with above-the-horizon targeting, costs £10 per shot, and will deploy on a Type 45 destroyer by 2027.
The UK’s DragonFire laser weapon has turned sci-fi into reality, zapping drones flying at nearly twice the speed of a Formula 1 car.
In recent trials, the laser successfully intercepted drones cruising at 650 kilometers (404 miles) per hour, marking the country’s first above-the-horizon laser engagement.
DragonFire is known for its ability to hit coin-sized targets from a kilometer away, delivering a precise, low-cost layer of defense against drones and other fast-moving threats.
The recent milestone comes as Britain awards 316 million pounds ($414 million) to MBDA UK to deliver the first DragonFire systems to the Royal Navy by 2027.
Future deployments will see the laser installed on Type 45 destroyers, firing $13-per-shot laser bursts instead of missiles costing hundreds of thousands.
“The success of recent DragonFire trials are a testament to our Ministry of Defence and Industry team delivering a truly game-changing weapon system into the hands of the Royal Navy,” said Chris Allam, MBDA UK Managing Director.
Shaping the Future of Defense
The program sits at the heart of the Strategic Defence Review, which commits nearly 1 billion pounds ($1.34 billion) to accelerate deployment of directed-energy weapons.
DragonFire is poised to become the first high-power laser weapon fielded by a European nation and one of NATO’s most advanced systems in the category.
The new contract is estimated to create up to 600 jobs across the UK, including 200 in Scotland, 185 in the South West, and 75 in the East of England.
MBDA UK is developing the laser with QinetiQ and Leonardo, using a rapid procurement model designed for continuous upgrades and faster fielding of future variants.
“This high-power laser will see our Royal Navy at the leading edge of innovation in NATO, delivering a cutting-edge capability to help defend the UK and our allies in this new era of threat,” said Luke Pollard, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry.
“We are delivering on our Strategic Defence Review by backing British industry and creating hundreds more jobs, making defense an engine for growth across the UK.”
