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DragonFire (weapon)

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DragonFire is a British laser directed-energy weapon (LDEW). 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 in 2027 onboard Royal Navy ships.[2]

DragonFire
A DragonFire laser test-fired in the Hebrides Range in Scotland, January 2024
TypeDirected-energy weapon, Laser weapon
Place of originUnited Kingdom
Service history
In service2027 (planned)
Used byBritish Armed Forces
Production history
ManufacturerUK DragonFire

Development

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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] and fitted to a Wolfhound armoured vehicle.[11] 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.[12]

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.[13]

Characteristics

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DragonFire uses UK-pioneered beam-combining technology to deliver a laser beam with increased power density, reduced defeat times and increased effective range.[14] 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.[15] Its energy demands may be met by a Flywheel Energy Storage System (FESS), a joint UK–US innovation currently in development.[16] The range of the weapon is undisclosed classified information. Cost per firing is very low; it has been stated as £10.[13]

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;[17] it aims to demonstrate these concepts on board a Type 23 frigate and a Wolfhound armoured vehicle.[18]

Operators

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Future operators

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  United Kingdom

Similar weapons

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Hughes, Owen (1 May 2017). "UK military to begin work on high-energy laser weapons for British armed forces". International Business Times. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "New procurement rules help rapid fitting of military laser to Royal Navy ships". GOV.UK. 12 April 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Dragonfire: Laser Directed Energy Weapons". GOV.UK. 13 September 2017.
  4. ^ a b c Osborne, Tony (17 July 2022). "UK Dragonfire Laser Begins Firing Trials". Aviation Week. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  5. ^ "Dragonfire proving trials underway". MBDA UK. 17 July 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  6. ^ "Laser power moves a step closer for UK defence". GOV.UK. 8 November 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Advanced Future Military Laser Achieves UK First". 19 January 2024.
  8. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68031257
  9. ^ "UK test-fires its first high-energy laser weapon". 30 October 2024.
  10. ^ "Declassified video shows DragonFire laser weapon in action". New Atlas. 11 March 2024. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Breaking News: UK Plans To Test Laser Weapon Mounted on Wolfhound Armored Vehicle". Army Recognition. 29 February 2024. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  12. ^ "UK tests a laser weapon that can hit a coin from a kilometer and costs just Rs 1,000 for a single fire". The Economics Times. 12 March 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  13. ^ a b Casey, Ian; Beale, Jonathan (12 April 2024). "DragonFire: UK laser could be used against Russian drones on Ukraine front line". BBC News.
  14. ^ "Case study: UK Dragonfire – Transforming future weapons technology". Qinetiq. 23 November 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  15. ^ Tangermann, Victor (5 January 2019). "The UK's New "Dragonfire" Laser Weapon is Weirdly Steampunk". Futurism. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  16. ^ "UK & USA test naval power systems". GOV.UK. 1 May 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  17. ^ "Britain's 'Dragonfire' ship laser gun to get accuracy boost". Defense News. 15 March 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  18. ^ "Brits make new push for directed-energy weapons aboard vehicles, ships". Defense News. 14 September 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
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