Development
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
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]
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