UK military unveils ultra-high precision laser weapon

The UK military has recently unveiled an extraordinary state-of-the-art laser weapon system that boasts both high power and exceptional precision. This cutting-edge technology has been specifically developed to effectively neutralize drones while they are in flight.

According to a statement by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), the weapon, named DragonFire, underwent its inaugural field test and successfully demonstrated its ability to shoot down aerial targets.

DragonFire is a laser-directed energy weapon (LDEW) system known for its “pinpoint accuracy.” The system can deliver a high-power laser with precision equivalent to “hitting a £1 coin from a kilometre away,” the MoD said.

“This type of cutting-edge weaponry has the potential to revolutionise the battlespace by reducing the reliance on expensive ammunition, while also lowering the risk of collateral damage,” UK defence secretary Grant Shapps said.

Firing the laser for 10 seconds has the cost equivalent of using a heater for just an hour, “typically less than £10 per shot,” the government said.

While the weapon’s maximum range is still classified, the military said it can “engage with any visible target.”

“These trials have seen us take a huge step forward in realising the potential opportunities and understanding the threats posed by directed energy weapons,” Paul Hollinshead, chief of the UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, said.

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Several countries, including the US, Germany, and Israel, are actively investigating the deployment of laser weapons to intercept drones and missiles in the airspace. The advancement of such weaponry coincides with the growing utilization of drones in warfare, particularly evident since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

In recent developments, there has been a concerning trend in the utilization of Iranian-made “Kamikaze” suicide drones by forces aligned with President Putin. These drones have been deployed with increasing frequency to carry out targeted strikes within Ukrainian cities, posing a significant threat to the region.

Concurrently, Ukraine has also resorted to employing fleets of similar drones, albeit constructed by amateur engineers, to retaliate against invading Russian troops as well as strategic targets within Russia itself. This escalation in drone warfare highlights the evolving nature of conflict and the growing importance of unmanned aerial systems in modern warfare.

According to experts, laser weapons hold the potential to serve as a cost-effective and long-term alternative to certain tasks currently performed by missiles, offering a reduced risk of collateral damage owing to their precision in targeting.

According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), these directed energy weapon systems possess the remarkable capability to engage targets at the speed of light. By harnessing an intense beam of light, they can effectively penetrate and weaken the structural integrity of the target, potentially causing structural failure. Moreover, if the warhead itself is the intended target, the impact of the laser beam can yield even more significant and consequential outcomes.