Developed by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), DragonFire is a new laser directed energy weapon (LDEW) designed to defeat aerial targets by burning into them. It will provide air defense for naval vessels at close range. It can also stop uncrewed enemies such as flying robots and mortars, as well as protect military forces against enemy mortars and rockets.
DragonFire is based on a novel coherent beam-combining technology that allows a scalable laser system to be built. The system is made up of two lasers, which produce a single beam. A beam director can be used to track targets with high precision. DragonFire's laser can produce 50 kilowatts and can destroy a steel target up to 2 miles away. It is expected that it will deliver powerful laser effects, without the need for ammunition or any other materials.
DragonFire currently is being developed by a UK consortium of industries and the Ministry of Defence. The consortium comprises MBDA UK UK GKN Arke QinetiQ and BAE Systems. It is being designed to defeat aerial targets in the air and on the sea, including enemy aircraft, helicopters, and drones.
DragonFire is currently being developed in parallel to MoD's Novel Weapons Programme. The program was established by the MoD to help it develop new weapon system that can face modern threats. Scientists have been assigned by the West to develop a strategy to counter these missiles.
DragonFire is built on the expertise of Dstl. Qinetiq also designed and developed a 50-kilowatt Phase-Combined Laser. It also has advanced command-and-control systems and image processing capabilities. The next step is to combine the results of the first two trials to determine how the laser can track targets at various distances.
The UK Dragonfire consortium currently builds a new demonstrator laser weapon for the UK Ministry of Defence. In January 2017, Dstl awarded a contract to the consortium to begin testing the MoD's laser directed energy weapons. The tests will confirm that the new laser weapon is capable and will help the UK better understand high energy lasers.
The first DragonFire test was performed at the Porton Down science and test range in Wiltshire. This is where the new laser weapon was tested. It was then tested against different targets, including small drones at different distances. Experts from many fields attended the demonstration.
The purpose of the trial was to verify the laser weapon's physical limits. The laser weapon will now be capable of delivering high-powered laser beams while maintaining precise accuracy. This trial validated the laser’s ability to generate useful effects as well as provide effective protection for military troops. Next, the demonstrator will be engaged against real-world targets. The trial will end with a major demonstration in 2019.
The DragonFire laser installations is designed for intercepting and destroying missiles and unmanned planes in midair. They also protect naval ships and ground troops. The laser installation uses electrical power instead of ammunition and was designed to meet MoD requirements for a new weapon.