New laser weapon takes down high-speed drones
2 days ago
- #technology
- #innovation
- #defense
- DragonFire laser weapon successfully shot down high-speed drones in recent trials, marking a UK first.
- A £316 million contract was awarded to MBDA UK to deliver DragonFire systems to the Royal Navy by 2027.
- The laser system costs just £10 per shot, making it a cost-effective alternative to traditional missile systems.
- DragonFire will be fitted to a Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer by 2027, five years ahead of schedule.
- The program will create and sustain 590 jobs across the UK, including 200 in Scotland.
- DragonFire is part of the Strategic Defence Review, representing one of NATO's most advanced directed energy weapons programs.
- The system is accurate enough to hit a £1 coin from a kilometer away.
- The UK government is investing nearly £1 billion in Directed Energy Weapons as part of the Strategic Defence Review.
- MBDA UK, QinetiQ, and Leonardo are collaborating to accelerate the development and deployment of DragonFire.