DragonFire (weapon)

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

DragonFire is a British laser directed-energy weapon (LDEW) technology demonstrator. It was first unveiled to the public 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). As a technology demonstrator, it will be used to assess laser directed-energy weapons and their potential applications within the British Armed Forces.[1]

Development[edit]

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.[2]

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.[3] 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.[4][5] 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."[6][7] It has been tested against mortar rounds and drones,[8] and fitted to a Wolfhound armoured vehicle.[9] The range of the weapon is classified, however it can engage "any visible target". 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. [10]

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.[11] 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.[12]

Characteristics[edit]

DragonFire uses UK-pioneered beam-combining technology to deliver a laser beam with increased power density, reduced defeat times and increased effective range.[13] This is achieved, in part, through the use of tens of glass fibres; however, the full technical approach remains classified.[3] 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.[3] 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.[14] Its energy demands may be met by a Flywheel Energy Storage System (FESS), a joint UK–US innovation currently in development.[15] The range of the weapon is undisclosed classified information. Cost per firing is very low; it has been stated as £10.[12]

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

Similar weapons[edit]

References[edit]

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