laserprototypepartial data
DragonFire
DragonFire LDEW, Laser Directed Energy Weapon
Ship-based high-energy laser for engaging drones and other visible aerial and surface targets at a running cost of about 10 pounds per shot.
$13 per shotRun it in the Exchange Ratio
| Maker | MBDA UK (prime, image processing and C2), Leonardo UK (beam director), QinetiQ (laser source); programme led by Dstl for the UK MOD |
|---|---|
| Origin | United Kingdom |
| Built | United Kingdom (contract jobs in Scotland, South West England and East of England) |
| Power | 50 kW |
| Guidance | Line-of-sight weapon; MBDA image processing and command and control, Leonardo beam director; engages any visible target |
The UK MOD says the range is classified and gives precision as hitting a 1 pound coin from a kilometre away, at typically under 10 pounds per shot. In 2025 Hebrides trials it downed drones flying at up to 650 km/h, and a 316 million pound contract (Nov 2025) puts it on a Type 45 destroyer from 2027. It has not been used in combat, and the 3.4 km sometimes quoted is a test-range safety limit, not a weapon range.
Sources (8)
- QinetiQ: Laser power a step closer for UK defence (power_kw)
- MBDA: Latest DragonFire laser trials deliver a UK first (power_kw)
- MBDA: Latest DragonFire laser trials deliver a UK first (maker)
- GOV.UK: Advanced future military laser achieves UK first (19 Jan 2024) (range_km)
- GOV.UK: Advanced future military laser achieves UK first (19 Jan 2024) (guidance_or_cueing)
- DE&S: Boost for Armed Forces as new laser weapon takes down high-speed drones (20 Nov 2025) (notes)
- DE&S: Boost for Armed Forces as new laser weapon takes down high-speed drones (20 Nov 2025) (built_where)
- Wikipedia: DragonFire (weapon), for the 3.4 km test-range safety limit (notes)
