UK Military Successfully Tests New DragonFire Laser Weapon System

Defense News ,U.K :- The UK's DragonFire laser weapon system has made a big leap forward by successfully firing a high-power laser against flying targets during a trial at the UK Ministry of Defence Hebrides Range.

In simpler terms, this trial, conducted by Dstl (Defence Science and Technology Laboratory) and DragonFire partners, including MBDA, Leonardo, and QinetiQ, is part of a series of successful tests. The DragonFire system has already demonstrated its ability to shoot a powerful laser at stationary targets, and it can accurately track moving air and sea targets from a long distance.

The DragonFire collaboration involves top UK companies and combines their expertise in weapon system manufacturing. This effort aims to enhance air defense capabilities on land and at sea.

The DragonFire system resulted from a £100 million joint investment by industry and the UK Ministry of Defence. The companies involved are not only advancing cutting-edge technologies but also creating skilled jobs in the UK. This technology represents a significant improvement in the UK's ability to use laser-directed energy weapons.

Chris Allam, Managing Director of MBDA UK, expressed confidence in the DragonFire system, saying that it showcases exceptional UK capabilities in laser weapons. The successful trials bring the UK closer to possessing a unique weapon that can address rapidly changing threats faced by frontline commands.

Mark Hamilton, Managing Director Electronics UK at Leonardo, highlighted the success of the UK DragonFire collaboration. Leonardo, with its decades of experience in laser technology, played a crucial role. The beam director technology developed by Leonardo allows precise tracking and pointing accuracy over long ranges while managing high-power laser energy. The system was successfully tested against representative aerial targets at different ranges, altitudes, and speeds.

Steve Wadey, Group Chief Executive Officer of QinetiQ, emphasized the significance of achieving the UK's first high-power firing of a laser weapon against aerial targets. QinetiQ's advanced coherent beam-combining technology contributed to enhanced performance and scalability. Wadey expressed pride in QinetiQ's role in collaboration with industry partners and Dstl in developing, testing, and evaluating this sovereign capability.

To break down the roles in the DragonFire laser system, MBDA handles command and control systems, as well as target tracking. Leonardo provides advanced beam director and optics technologies, while QinetiQ supplies the precision laser source.