British Defence Ministry announced Friday that an industry team had successfully destroyed an aerial target using its DragonFire laser.
The direct-energy weapon trial is considered a significant milestone towards the deployment of the system, perhaps within five years.
Conflicts in Ukraine and near the Red Sea, in which expensive air defense missiles are used against inexpensive but effective drones, are partially behind efforts to quickly field such weapons. According to the ministry, the laser typically costs less than £10 (U.S. $13) per shot to operate.
In 2017, the ministry’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory announced DragonFire, a £30 million technology demonstration program.
The industry team, led by missile-maker MBDA, and including Leonardo UK and QinetiQ, forms the core of a £100 million joint investment with the ministry to develop directed-energy weapons across several programs, including radio-frequency direct-energy weapons.
The Ministry of Defense stated that the DragonFire test results represent a significant step forward in bringing laser technology into service. Following a series of tests announced by the ministry last year, the latest milestone includes a demonstration of the ability of the DragonFire system to track moving air and sea targets with high accuracy, as well as the first static high-power laser firing of a U.K.-made capability.
In response to the recent trials, Shimon Fhina, who directs the ministry’s strategic programs, said the technology is capable of tracking and engaging high-end targets at range. The government wishes to “accelerate the next phase of the program,” according to him.
According to a spokesperson from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, “the timing of any deployment into UK service depends on a number of factors, but is likely to occur within the next five to ten years.”
As part of the MoD’s transition phase, directed energy weapons have already been announced. A spokesperson explained that the purpose of this is to communicate safety measures, implement training, develop operational concepts and doctrine, and so on, in preparation for the eventual fielding of directed energy weapons.
According to Doug Barrie, an air warfare analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank in London, the U.K. has been making progress on laser technology.
Many projects are being conducted in countries like the United States, Russia, and China – most of which are classified. Although the U.K. has a long history of laser and radio frequency research, we [managed to] get quite a bit out of our funding, while we cannot even begin to imagine the level of funding countries such as the U.S. obtain. As he stated, the problem is in transitioning the technology to the marketplace.
It was reported last year that the Ministry of Defence was considering retrofitting a 150-kilowatt laser directed-energy weapon for new Type 26 frigates beginning in the early 2030s.
Defence News has not been provided with technical details of the DragonFire, including its range and power levels. Previous media reports indicated that the DragonFire’s power level was around 50 kilowatts.
“The range of DragonFire is classified, but it is a line-of-sight weapon and can engage with any visible target,” the ministry said.
As part of the latest trial, the DragonFire shot down a drone at a test range in Hebrides, Scotland. However, no further information was provided about the target, including its range, altitude and speed.
“This type of cutting-edge weaponry has the potential to revolutionise the battlespace by reducing the reliance on expensive ammunition, while also lowering the risk of collateral damage,” Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said in the ministry’s news release. “Investments with industry partners in advanced technologies like DragonFire are crucial in a highly contested world.”
