{"id":36948,"date":"2024-01-19T17:53:01","date_gmt":"2024-01-19T17:53:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/uncategorized\/2024\/01\/19\/in-first-uk-downs-aerial-drone-with-test-shot-from-dragonfire-laser\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T01:01:59","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T01:01:59","slug":"in-first-uk-downs-aerial-drone-with-test-shot-from-dragonfire-laser","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/battlefield-tech\/directed-energy\/2024\/01\/19\/in-first-uk-downs-aerial-drone-with-test-shot-from-dragonfire-laser\/","title":{"rendered":"In first, UK downs aerial drone with test shot from DragonFire laser"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

LONDON \u2014 An industry team has for the first time destroyed an aerial target using a high-power shot with its DragonFire laser<\/a>, the British Defence Ministry announced Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trial with the direct-energy weapon is considered a significant milestone toward the deployment of the system, possibly within five years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Efforts to quickly field such weapons are partly driven by conflicts in Ukraine<\/a> and near the Red Sea<\/a>, where expensive air defense missiles are used against cheap but effective drones<\/a>. The cost of operating the laser is typically less than \u00a310 (U.S. $13) per shot, the ministry noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DragonFire is a \u00a330 million technology demonstrator program revealed by the ministry\u2019s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory in 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The industry team \u2014 led by missile-maker MBDA<\/a>, with partners Leonardo UK and QinetiQ \u2014 is the key element in a \u00a3100 million joint investment with the ministry to develop directed-energy weapons across several programs, including radio-frequency direct-energy weapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The MoD said the DragonFire test results are a major step forward in bringing the laser technology into service. The latest milestone follows a series of trials announced by the ministry late last year, including the first static high-power laser firing of a U.K.-made capability as well as the demonstration of the DragonFire system\u2019s ability to track moving air and sea targets with high accuracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
DragonFire is a \u00a330 million technology demonstrator program revealed in 2017. (British Defence Ministry)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Shimon Fhina, who directs the ministy\u2019s strategic programs, said the recent trials proved the technology can track and engage high-end targets at range. The government was looking to \u201caccelerate the next phase of the program,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A spokesperson with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory said the \u201ctiming of any deployment into U.K. service depends on a number of factors, but could be within the next 5 to 10 years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The MoD had already announced its intent to progress directed-energy weapons into a so-called transition phase. This is meant to prepare the military for the eventual fielding of directed-energy weapons by communicating safety measures, implementing training, creating operational concepts and doctrine, and so on, the spokesperson explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doug Barrie, an air warfare analyst at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank, said the U.K.\u2019s progress on laser technology is going well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is a lot of work going on in countries like the U.S., Russia and China \u2014 most of it classified. But the U.K. has a long history in laser and radio-frequency work, and while we can only dream about the funding levels countries like the U.S. obtain, we [managed to squeeze] quite a lot out of our funding. It\u2019s transitioning the technology to the marketplace that is the problem,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The British Army and the Royal Navy are each interested in using the technology for air defense. Naval News reported last year the MoD was looking at the retrofit of a 150-kilowatt-class laser directed-energy weapon for new Type 26 frigates beginning in the early 2030s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ministry declined to provide Defense news with technical details of the DragonFire, including its range and power levels. Media reports previously put the power level around 50 kilowatts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe range of DragonFire is classified, but it is a line-of-sight weapon and can engage with any visible target,\u201d the ministry said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The latest trial took place at a test range in Hebrides, Scotland. The DragonFire shot down a drone, according to the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, but no further details about the target were available, including range, altitude and speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis 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,\u201d Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said in the ministry\u2019s news release. \u201cInvestments with industry partners in advanced technologies like DragonFire are crucial in a highly contested world.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The trial with the direct-energy weapon is considered a significant milestone toward the deployment of the system, possibly within five 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