The British Royal Navy is preparing to enter a new era of air defense: the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence has awarded MBDA UK a contract worth 316 million pounds to equip the fleet with the DragonFire laser system, one of the most advanced technologies in the world against drones. The first installations are expected by 2027, when a Type 45 unit of the Royal Navy will be equipped with the directed energy weapon.
The DragonFire recently demonstrated its effectiveness during tests conducted at the Hebrides range in Scotland, where it neutralized a high-speed drone. According to the Ministry of Defence, this is the first operational high-power laser capability in Europe, a strategic step for London in the new global scenario dominated by low-cost threats and the massive use of drones.
An economical and extremely precise response to new threats
One of the strengths of the DragonFire is the cost of engagement: just 10 pounds per shot, a negligible amount compared to traditional missiles that can exceed hundreds of thousands of pounds per single interception. Added to this is a precision described as “surgical”: the laser can hit an object the size of a one-pound coin from a kilometer away.
The system, developed by MBDA UK in collaboration with QinetiQ and Leonardo, will be delivered almost five years ahead of the initial plans. In the most recent tests, it shot down targets flying up to 650 km/h, confirming the operational maturity of the technology.
The DragonFire project is part of the broader British strategy on directed energy weapons, supported by the Strategic Defence Review, which has allocated nearly 1 billion pounds to accelerate these programs during the current legislature. The investment, in addition to strengthening the country's defensive capability, will allow the creation or maintenance of hundreds of jobs in the national technology sector.
According to Luke Pollard, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry “this technology will put the Royal Navy at the forefront of NATO innovation, offering a decisive capability to protect the United Kingdom and its allies”.
MBDA leading in Europe: the race for military lasers intensifies
MBDA, already known for systems like Aster and Mistral, is today one of the main players in the field of laser weapons. The company is working on similar programs in Germany (with Rheinmetall), in Italy (with Leonardo for a light naval laser), and in France, where it controls the majority of the company Cilas, producer of the anti-drone system Helma-P.
With the arrival of the DragonFire on the Royal Navy in 2027, the United Kingdom will be the first European country to deploy an operational high-power laser, marking the beginning of a new phase in drone defense and the future of directed energy weapon systems.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!