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DragonFire (weapon)
UK laser weapon technology demonstrator From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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DragonFire is a British laser directed-energy weapon (LDEW) in development for the Royal Navy. It was first unveiled to the public as a technology demonstrator in 2017 at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) conference in London and is being developed by UK DragonFire, a collaboration consisting of MBDA UK, Leonardo UK, QinetiQ and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (dstl).[1] A production version is expected to enter service onboard Royal Navy ships in 2027.[2]
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Development
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Perspective
The weapon was first shown publicly at the 2017 DSEI conference in London. Development of the technology demonstrator was to be carried out by a partnership between the British Ministry of Defence (MOD) and private industry. UK DragonFire is the result of contracts worth £100 million – of which £30 million was awarded by the MoD's Chief Scientific Advisor's Research Programme – from various companies, led by MBDA UK with QinetiQ, Leonardo, GKN, Arke, BAE Systems and Marshall Land Systems participating, to develop a technology demonstrator.[3]
Trials were to begin in 2018, followed by a major demonstration in 2019; however, the COVID-19 pandemic and technical problems caused delays. It was ultimately deployed on trials in 2022 on the ranges in the Outer Hebrides in Scotland.[4] According to MBDA, these initial low-power trials proved DragonFire's ability to track air and sea targets with exceptionally high accuracy. This was followed by high-power trials in November 2022, where the weapon engaged targets using its high-power laser in operationally representative scenarios.[5][6] DragonFire engaged an airborne target in exercises in Scotland in January 2024. The MOD stated: "The range of DragonFire is classified, but it is a line-of-sight weapon and can engage with any visible target. The precision required is equivalent to hitting a £1 coin (23 mm) from a kilometre away."[7][8] However according to an article on Freethink, "On November 8, 2022, it revealed that the $115 million laser weapon had been fired at high power at targets, including a drone and metals like the ones used in ship hulls, at ranges up to 2.1 miles."[9] It has been tested against mortar rounds and drones.[10] The UK MoD claims the firing of the weapon, for 10 seconds, only costs £10 per shot or the equivalent of running a heater for one hour.[11]
In April 2024, the MOD announced that new procurement rules had increased the rate of development of the weapon and, as a result, it is expected to be in service onboard Royal Navy ships from 2027 instead of the originally planned 2032.[2] UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps stated that an early version of the weapon could be used by Ukraine against Russia as part of the Russo-Ukrainian War.[12]
QinetiQ, one of the companies involved in the development of DragonFire, is also contributing to an Australian effort to develop a similar weapon; technology and expertise from DragonFire has fed into its development.[13][14][15]
On 26 March 2025, additional funding was secured to accelerate DragonFire's entry into service; four ships, rather than one, will be equipped with the system by 2027.[16]
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Characteristics
DragonFire uses UK-pioneered beam-combining technology to deliver a laser beam with increased power density, reduced defeat times and increased effective range.[17] This is achieved, in part, through the use of tens of glass fibres; however, the full technical approach remains classified.[4] The laser and its associated targeting systems, including an electro-optical camera and second lower-power laser for imaging and tracking, are mounted to a turret.[4] The laser is reportedly in the 50 kW class and is designed to defend land and maritime targets from threats such as missiles and mortar rounds.[18] Its energy demands may be met by a Flywheel Energy Storage System (FESS), a joint UK–US innovation currently in development.[19] The range of the weapon is undisclosed classified information. Cost per firing is very low; it has been stated as £10.[12]
The UK envisages high-energy laser weapons, like DragonFire, onboard future Royal Navy warships, British Army armoured vehicles and fighter aircraft of the Royal Air Force, including the BAE Systems Tempest;[20] it aims to demonstrate these concepts on board a Type 23 frigate and a Wolfhound armoured vehicle.[21]
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Operators
Future operators
United Kingdom- Royal Navy (from 2027)[2]
Similar weapons
- Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon - a parallel development of a radio frequency directed-energy weapon
- HELIOS (United States)
- Iron Beam (Israel)
- ALKA (weapon) (Turkey)
See also
References
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