- The UK is proceeding with plans to install its new Dragonfire laser weapon aboard its warships.
- Laser systems are being utilized to address emerging threats posed by drones.
- The UK stated that the laser can target a tiny coin at a distance of 600 meters.
The UK intends to install its new DragonFire laser weaponry aboard four naval vessels as part of efforts to enhance its armed forces.
A representative from the UK Ministry of Defence informed Business Insider that the intention is to have these weapons systems installed on four Royal Navy destroyers by 2027.
This follows a £2.2 billion, or $2.8 billion, increase in UK defense expenditure for the upcoming fiscal year. The nation is boosting its defense budget to 2.5% of GDP amid rising global unrest and under pressure from President Donald Trump.
“The investment will go toward cutting-edge technologies ensuring that Britain’s military has the necessary equipment to excel and prevail in contemporary combat scenarios,” stated the UK Ministry of Defence.
This involves ensuring the funding to equip Royal Navy vessels with Directed Energy Weapons by 2027.
The Ministry stated that the Dragonfire system has the capability to accurately target an object as small as a coin from a distance of 1 kilometer (0.6 miles), and can also neutralize drones beyond a range of three miles.
Last year, the Ministry of Defense unveiled
a clip demonstrating the weapon
being evaluated near the shores of Scotland.
Initially, it stated that operating the laser cost approximately $13 per use, which was considerably cheaper than missile-based air-defense systems that often run into millions of dollars.
The UK’s Armed Forces Minister, Luke Pollard, informed Forces News that directed energy weapons represent “one of these innovative and cutting-edge technologies that we aim to have aboard more of our vessels.”
“The specific efforts focused on destroyer development by the Navy right now represent a significant enhancement to the protective capabilities of our Royal Navy fleet,” he noted.
Nations such as the US, China, and Israel are also preparing to deploy their own laser weapons, which were once solely the subject matter of science fiction tales.
The shift towards using lasers has accelerated due to the dangers presented by drones.
or unmanned aerial vehicles
These drones are inexpensive and can be equipped with explosives. They have seen significant use in the conflict in Ukraine and have also been employed by Houthi fighters in assaults on global maritime routes.
Laser weapons function by aiming an intense energy ray at the susceptible areas of the target with the intention of rendering it non-functional.
An animation video
Released by the UK Ministry of Defence last year, footage demonstrated a Dragonfire system being employed to neutralize two drones heading towards a naval ship.
Nevertheless, military analysts indicate that numerous significant questions remain unaddressed.
How effectively do laser weapons operate under adverse weather conditions or when there’s smoke?
, or in supplying sufficient energy to function in specific conditions.
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