During a trial at the MOD’s Hebrides Range, the DragonFire
laser directed energy weapon (LDEW) system achieved the
UK’s first high-power firing of a laser weapon against aerial
targets. The range of DragonFire is classified, but it is a
line-of-sight weapon and can engage with any visible target.
- First high-power firing of a laser weapon against aerial
targets
- Laser boasts pinpoint accuracy and low long-term costs
- Partnership with industry making positive progress for UK
Armed Forces
DragonFire exploits UK technology to be able to deliver a high
power laser over long ranges. The precision required is
equivalent to hitting a £1 coin from a kilometre away.
Laser-directed energy weapons can engage targets at the speed of
light, and use an intense beam of light to cut through the
target, leading to structural failure or more impactful results
if the warhead is targeted.
Firing it for 10 seconds is the cost equivalent of using a
regular heater for just an hour. Therefore, it has the potential
to be a long-term low-cost alternative to certain tasks missiles
currently carry out. The cost of operating the laser is typically
less than £10 per shot.
DragonFire is led by the Defence Science and Technology
Laboratory (Dstl), on
behalf of the UK MOD,
working with its industry partners MBDA, Leonardo and QinetiQ.
This milestone demonstrated the ability to engage aerial targets
at relevant ranges and is a major step in bringing this
technology into service. Both the Army and Royal Navy are
considering using this technology as part of their future Air
Defence capabilities.
Defence Secretary, Grant Shapp said:
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.
Investments with industry partners in advanced technologies like
DragonFire are crucial in a highly contested world, helping us
maintain the battle-winning edge and keep the nation safe.
The latest milestone builds on a series of highly successful
trials, including the first static high-power
laser firing of a sovereign UK capability and demonstration
of the DragonFire system’s ability to track moving air and sea
targets with very high accuracy at range.
Building on this research, the MOD recently announced its intention
to fund a multi-million-pound programme to transition the
technology from the research environment to the battlefield.
The latest trial was sponsored by the MOD’s Defence Science and Technology
(DST)
organisation and Strategic Programmes and enabled by many other
agencies across government, ensuring all regulatory and safety
approval requirements were satisfied.
Dstl’s Chief
Executive, Dr Paul Hollinshead said:
These trials have seen us take a huge step forward in realising
the potential opportunities and understanding the threats posed
by directed energy weapons.
With our decades of knowledge, skills, and operational
experience, Dstl’s
expertise is critical to helping the armed forces prepare for the
future.
The DragonFire weapon system is the result of a £100 million
joint investment by the Ministry of Defence and industry.
Together, the companies involved are supporting highly-skilled UK
jobs in new cutting-edge technologies that are delivering a
significant step-change in the UK’s capability in LDEW systems.
In 2017 the MOD’s Chief
Scientific Advisor’s Research Programme awarded a £30 million
contract to the DragonFire consortium to demonstrate the
potential of LDEWs.
Dr Nick Joad, DST said:
This is a really innovative application of science and
engineering and is the fruit of sustained investment and effort.
DragonFire uses cutting-edge science and technology and delivers
much greater performance than other systems of a similar class.
DragonFire provides a step-change in our ability to deal with
high-performance and low-cost threats.
UK defence is continuing to invest in these game-changing
technologies and is advancing the plans which will ultimately
bring them into service.
Shimon Fhima, Director Strategic Programmes for the MOD said:
The DragonFire trials at the Hebrides demonstrated that our
world-leading technology can track and engage high-end effects at
range. In a world of evolving threats we know that our focus must
be on getting capability to the warfighter and we will look to
accelerate this next phase of activity.
LDEW research
and technology is delivered in partnership and is a
cost-effective way of meeting the needs of the MOD while maintaining UK industry’s
technology and skills base.
UK defence is continuing to invest in these game-changing
technologies and is advancing the plans which will ultimately
bring them into service
Find out more about Dstl’s
weapons science and
technology capability and how to work with us.
