DragonFire laser weapon achieves high-power firing
The DragonFire laser directed energy weapon (LDEW) system has achieved the UK’s first high-power firing of a laser weapon against aerial targets during a trial at the MOD Hebrides Range.
Delivered by Dstl and the DragonFire partners - MBDA, Leonardo and QinetiQ – the trial builds on the first static high-power laser firing of a sovereign UK capability and demonstration of the DragonFire system's ability to track moving air and sea targets with very high accuracy at long range.
In a statement ,Chris Allam, managing director, MBDA UK, said: “Together, the DragonFire partners and Dstl are demonstrating exceptional UK capability in laser directed energy weapons. The DragonFire system has been successfully proven to date and we are now closer than ever to having a unique weapon that will enable frontline commands to meet the rapidly changing threats they face.”
The DragonFire weapon system is the result of a £100m joint investment by industry and the UK Ministry of Defence, and together the companies involved are supporting UK jobs in new pioneering technologies that are delivering a significant step-change in the UK's capability in LDEW systems.
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