UK's first Laser Weapon Can Down Drones at the Speed of Light

In a landmark advancement for defense technology, the United Kingdom has successfully tested DragonFire, the nation's first high-powered laser-directed energy weapon (LDEW), capable of shooting down drones with precision at light speed. The trial marks a major milestone in developing cost-effective, future-ready counter-drone systems for the UK Armed Forces.

• DragonFire is the UK’s first laser weapon to down aerial drones during live trials. 

• Employs a high-energy infra-red laser beam, delivering pinpoint accuracy over ranges of over 1 km.

•  Each shot costs under £10—drastically cheaper than missiles. 

• Developed by DragonFire consortium: MBDA UK, Leonardo, QinetiQ, and the UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL). Intended deployment: onto Royal Navy ships and Army armored vehicles by 2027, five years ahead of schedule.

• Fires an intense infra-red beam directly at airborne drones—operates at the speed of light, ensuring instant hits. 

• Uses electro-optical sensors and tracking systems to lock onto moving or hovering targets. 

• Demonstrated ability to hit a target the size of a £1 coin at over a kilometer—a test of remarkable accuracy. 

• The energy cost per shot is less than £10, compared to missiles costing upwards of £1 million–a game-changer in military economics.

Drone Proliferation: With UAVs flooding modern battlefields— from Ukraine to the Middle East—traditional missile defenses are costly and reactive.

Budget-Friendly Defense: Laser weapons offer a sustainable, low-cost solution per engagement.

Speed & Accuracy: Neutralizes threats in lightning-fast engagements with minimal collateral damage.

Scalability & Integration: Suitable for deployment across varied platforms—from vehicles to naval ships.

• 2017: DragonFire consortium formed under a £100 million MoD research contract. 

• 2018–2021: Initial low-power trials at Hebrides Range, followed by the first high-power tests in 2022. 

• Jan 2024: First live drone-downing achieved—first British active usage of a laser-directed energy weapon. 

• Late 2024: The British Army mounted a similar laser onto a Wolfhound vehicle and tested it at Porton Down. 

• 2025 Update: The Defence Secretary recently revealed Navy plans to deploy DragonFire on ships by 2027.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps:

“This cutting-edge weapon can revolutionize the battlespace by reducing reliance on expensive ammunition... helping us maintain the battle-winning edge.”

Dr. Paul Hollinshead, DSTL Chief Executive:

“We’ve taken a huge step forward in realising opportunities and understanding threats posed by directed-energy weapons.” 

Warrant Officer Matthew Anderson (Army trials):

“Every engagement we’ve done has removed a drone from the sky… We’re well on our way to battlefield deployment.”

Atmospheric conditions: Fog, dust, and rain can scatter laser beams—a challenge known as thermal blooming. 

Energy requirements: Requires large power sources—potentially mitigated by emerging flywheel energy storage systems. 

Range limits: Effective within line-of-sight, topping out at a few kilometers compared to long-range missiles.

Regulatory adaptation: Military doctrines, safety standards, and soldier training must evolve with technology.