LONDON (Chatnewstv.com) — Britain’s Ministry of Defence has awarded a £316 million contract to manufacture a high-tech laser weapon system, officials announced Thursday, following successful trials where the directed energy beam shot down high-speed drones.
The system, known as DragonFire, is set to be installed on Royal Navy Type 45 destroyers starting in 2027, a deployment schedule officials said is five years faster than originally planned.
The contract was awarded to missile systems company MBDA UK following tests at the MoD’s Hebrides range. During the exercises, the laser successfully tracked and engaged drones flying at speeds of up to 650 kph (403 mph)—roughly twice the top speed of a Formula 1 car.
Defense officials tout the directed energy weapon as a low-cost alternative to traditional air defense. While conventional missiles can cost hundreds of thousands of pounds per interception, the DragonFire system costs approximately £10 per shot. The MoD claims the laser is precise enough to hit a £1 coin from a kilometer away.
“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,” said Luke Pollard, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry.
The weapon represents the first high-power laser capability to enter service from a European nation. The procurement is part of the government’s Strategic Defence Review, which has earmarked nearly £1 billion for directed energy weapon development.
The program is a collaboration between MBDA, QinetiQ, and Leonardo. The government said the new contract will support 590 skilled jobs, including 200 in Scotland and nearly 400 across the South West and East of England.
Chris Allam, managing director of MBDA UK, called the latest contract a significant milestone that validates the rapid procurement approach adopted by the ministry.
“The success of recent DragonFire trials are a testament to our MoD and Industry team delivering a truly game-changing weapon system into the hands of the Royal Navy,” Allam said.
The trials marked the first time a UK laser weapon successfully engaged aerial targets above the horizon.
Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander noted the significance of the testing location and the industrial base required to build the system.
“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,” Alexander said.
The system uses a beam director developed by Leonardo to focus powerful laser energy onto specific targets, while QinetiQ provides the laser technology.
Steve Wadey, Group CEO of QinetiQ, said the project illustrates how the defense industry is working to get “disruptive, next generation technology into the hands of our warfighters at pace.”
