Laser shoots down drone in Navy check exhibiting the way forward for warfare
In new trials at the MOD’s Hebrides range, the laser shot down drones that can fly up to 650km/h – twice the top speed of a Formula 1 car, and can hit a £1 coin from a kilometre away
Britain’s ground-breaking DragonFire laser has shot down high-speed drones in a major boost for the nation’s defence.
In new trials at the MOD’s Hebrides range, the laser shot down drones that can fly up to 650km/h – twice the top speed of a Formula 1 car. The Star Wars-esque laser system costs just £10 per shot and is accurate enough to hit a £1 coin from a kilometre away.
It has now seen a £316 million contract awarded to MBDA to deliver new systems to the Royal Navy from 2027, and be fitted to a Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer five years faster than originally planned.
As part of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), DragonFire is the first high-power laser from a European nation, representing one of the most advanced directed energy weapons programmes in NATO.
The cutting-edge DragonFire laser will help to create and sustain 590 jobs across the UK, showing how defence is an engine for growth.
This includes 200 highly skilled jobs in Scotland, 185 jobs in the South West of England and 75 jobs in the East of England, delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP, said: “This high-power laser will see our Royal Navy at the leading edge of innovation in NATO, delivering a cutting-edge capability to help defend the UK and our allies in this new era of threat.
“We are delivering on our Strategic Defence Review by backing British industry and creating hundreds more jobs, making defence an engine for growth across the UK.”
Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said: “This new £316 million contract award – and news that DragonFire has successfully taken down high-speed drones in the latest trials at the MoD’s Hebrides range – shows just how vital Scottish expertise is to the UK’s national security and why Scotland is globally recognised as a centre of defence excellence.
“DragonFire is the latest in an impressive line of defence dividend wins for Scotland. The UK Government is transforming our defence sector into an even more powerful engine for growth because when we back our service personnel and Scottish industry, we keep ourselves and our allies secure whilst delivering skilled jobs and growth for communities and workers.”
