DragonFire Takes Down High-Speed Drones with Low-Cost Laser
TL;DR
The British Royal Navy's DragonFire laser successfully took down drones flying at speeds of up to 650 km/h during tests conducted in Scotland. The technology is set to be integrated into ships by 2027, announced the UK Ministry of Defence last week.
The DragonFire laser from the British Royal Navy has successfully taken down drones flying at speeds of up to 650 km/h during tests conducted in Scotland. The technology is expected to be integrated into ships starting in 2027, as announced by the UK Ministry of Defence last week.
Developed by MBDA, in collaboration with QinetiQ and Leonardo, DragonFire serves as a low-cost alternative to conventional air defense missiles. Its effectiveness aligns with modern military strategies, especially in the recent conflicts between Russia and Ukraine.
Precise and Low-Cost Shots
In the Hebrides archipelago, the laser proved capable of taking down high-speed drones, even surpassing the performance of Formula 1 cars. The weapon is designed to intercept targets used in contemporary military operations.
- During tests, DragonFire demonstrated remarkable accuracy, being able to hit a £1 coin from 1 km away, according to reports from the Ministry of Defence;
- Each shot from the system costs only £10, approximately R$71 based on current exchange rates;
- This amount is significantly lower than costs involved in traditional missile systems, which can reach hundreds of thousands of pounds;
- However, the effectiveness of the system may be limited by weather conditions, such as rain and cloud presence.
DragonFire is a laser directed energy weapon designed and built entirely in the UK.
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) November 20, 2025
It can hit a target the size of a £1 coin from a kilometre away, costs only £10 a shot, and just successfully took down a high-speed drone during testing.
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The Minister for Defence Industries and Readiness, Luke Pollard, emphasized that this technology will position the Royal Navy at the forefront of NATO innovations, providing enhanced defense capabilities for the UK and its allies.
The DragonFire will be the first technology of its kind operating in Europe, standing out as one of the most advanced directed energy weapon programs within NATO and is part of the UK's Strategic Defence Review (SDR).
Anticipated Early Integration
The Ministry of Defence indicated that the integration of DragonFire into the Type 45 destroyer is expected to occur by 2027, an advance compared to the original schedule which projected the use of the technology only in 2032.
The contract for implementing the technology totals £316 million, about R$2.2 billion, and the initiative is expected to create nearly 600 jobs in the UK in the coming years.
This advancement in defense technology could represent a significant step towards modernizing the British armed forces and their capacity to respond to current and future threats.
Content selected and edited with AI assistance. Original sources referenced above.
