In a major leap forward for military technology, Britain’s pioneering DragonFire laser weapon system has successfully shot down high-speed drones in its latest trials. This milestone coincides with the awarding of a £316 million contract to defence firm MBDA to deliver these new systems to the Royal Navy from 2027, accelerating the programme by a full five years.
The recent trials, conducted at the Ministry of Defence’s Hebrides Range, demonstrated DragonFire’s formidable capabilities against drones travelling at up to 650km/h—twice the top speed of a Formula 1 car. Crucially, the tests included a UK first: successfully tracking, targeting, and destroying such drones from beyond the visual horizon. This proves the system’s effectiveness against fast-moving, low-visibility threats.
A key advantage of the DragonFire system is its revolutionary cost-effectiveness. While traditional missile defences can cost hundreds of thousands of pounds per launch, the laser operates at approximately £10 per shot. Its precision is equally remarkable, with accuracy sufficient to hit a £1 coin from a kilometre away. This combination of low cost and high accuracy promises to transform naval defence, offering a near-limitless magazine for countering asymmetric threats like drones. The system is now slated to be fitted to a Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer by 2027.
Beyond its tactical advantages, the DragonFire programme is a significant economic driver. It is expected to create and sustain 590 jobs across the UK, including 200 highly skilled roles in Scotland, 185 in the South West of England, and 75 in the East of England. This underscores the government’s message that defence is a powerful engine for national growth.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP, stated that the high-power laser will place the Royal Navy “at the leading edge of innovation in NATO,” delivering a vital capability for a new era of global threats. He emphasised that this achievement delivers on the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) by backing British industry and creating skilled jobs.
Echoing this sentiment, Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander highlighted the “vital Scottish expertise” involved, noting that Scotland is “globally recognised as a centre of defence excellence.” He described DragonFire as part of a “defence dividend” for Scotland, securing skilled jobs while enhancing national and allied security.
As part of the SDR, DragonFire represents the first high-power laser capability from a European nation, positioning the UK at the forefront of NATO’s directed energy weapons programmes. The SDR has backed this cutting-edge work with nearly £1 billion in additional investment during this Parliament alone.
MBDA UK will develop the capability in partnership with QinetiQ and Leonardo, employing a fundamentally different, rapid approach to defence procurement that allows for continuous improvement. Industry leaders celebrated the contract. Chris Allam of MBDA called it a “significant milestone,” while Steve Wadey of QinetiQ praised the collaborative effort to get “disruptive, next generation technology into the hands of our warfighters at pace.” Mark Stead of Leonardo highlighted his company’s role in producing the sophisticated beam director, calling the contract a testament to the hard work and rapid progress of the defence-industry partnership.
