DragonFire was created by the UK Ministry of Defence. It will provide air defense for naval vessels at close range. It can also protect military forces from enemy mortars/rockets and stop flying robots and mortars.
DragonFire is based on a novel coherent beam-combining technology that allows a scalable laser system to be built. The system merges two lasers which create a single beam. The laser can also be linked to a beamdirector, which allows targets to be tracked with extremely precise precision. DragonFire is capable of dismantling steel targets at up two miles. It can also produce up 50 kilowatts. It is expected that it can deliver powerful laser effects even without ammunition or other materials.
DragonFire is currently being developed by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and a UK consortium of industry. The consortium includes MBDA UK UK, GKN UK, Arke QinetiQ (BaE Systems), and Arke. It's designed to destroy aerial targets, both on the ground and in the air, including enemy aircraft, drones and helicopters.
DragonFire has been under development in parallel with the MoD's Novel Weapons Programme. The program was designed to help the MoD create new weapon systems to deal with modern threats. Scientists have been assigned by the West to develop a strategy to counter these missiles.
The DragonFire solution draws on expertise across Dstl, including the design and development of a 50-kilowatt phase-combined laser by Qinetiq. 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 has been busy building a new weapon demonstrator for UK Ministry of Defence. Dstl in January 2017 awarded the contract to the consortium for the testing of the MoD’s laser directed energy weapon systems. The tests will confirm and deepen the UK's understanding of high-energy lasers.
The first DragonFire weapon test took place at the Porton Down science park testing range in Wiltshire. There, researchers tried the new laser. It was then trialed against a variety of targets, including small drones and metal targets at different distances. The demonstration was attended by experts from multiple fields.
This trial was intended to determine the physical limits and accuracy of the laser weapon. It will be able to deliver powerful laser beams with pinpoint accuracy. The laser's ability to produce useful effects and provide protection for military forces was also confirmed by the trial. The next stage involves engaging the demonstrator with real-world targets. The trial will close with a large 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 electricity rather than ammunition and was developed to fulfill the MoD's requirements.