The U.K.’s DragonFire directed energy weapon program, led by missile developer MBDA, has shot down high-speed drones in new trials. The demonstration has lead to a £316 million ($414M) contract with the Royal Navy to continue development on the weapon and install it on a Type 45 destroyer by 2027. The U.K.’s DragonFire directed energy weapon, developed by MBDA, Qinetiq, and Leonardo, lights up the night as it targets a drone during a midnight interception. Courtesy of the Royal Navy. The most recent trials at the Ministry of Defence’s Hebrides range saw the laser shooting drones capable of speeds up to 650 km/h, even with above-the-horizon tracking. As part of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), DragonFire is the first high-power laser capability entering service from a European nation, representing one of the most advanced directed energy weapons programs in NATO. The SDR-backed U.K. directed energy weapon program secured an investment of nearly £1 billion earlier this year. Working with QinetiQ and Leonardo, MBDA will hone the design and functioning of the system before installing the high-power device on one of the Portsmouth-based destroyers five years ahead of original plans. According to MBDA, the directed energy system is accurate enough to hit a coin from a kilometer away. DragonFire costs £10 ($13) per shot.
