Britain’s DragonFire laser weapon is on track to be deployed for the Royal Navy by 2027. Ministers have reiterated existing plans rather than announcing additional acceleration, UK Defence Journal reports.
Defence Minister Lord Coaker said the government remains “committed to advancing the development, testing, and integration” of the DragonFire laser weapon system, in response to a written question from Lord Spellar.
A contract for the first two DragonFire laser weapon systems was awarded to MBDA in November 2025, with the first set to be installed on a Type 45 destroyer in 2027, half a decade sooner than initially planned. Major firing trials completed last year have supported a move towards operational capability, according to UK Defence Journal. The UK hopes to be the first European NATO member to deploy laser-directed energy weapons.
DragonFire is a UK-developed taser directed-energy weapon. First shown publicly in 2017, the system has been through trials in the UK including tests in the Hebrides range where it tracked and engaged with aerial targets. It is designed to respond to threats including drones and mortar rounds with a high-powered laser in the 50kw class. Multiple glass-fibre lasers are combined into a single beam mounted in a turret alongside tracking sensors including an electro-optical camera.
Trials have shown a high level of accuracy and the Ministry of Defence has previously stated its precision is equivalent to hitting a small coin form a kilometre away, though the weapon’s range is classified.
The Ministry of Defence also points to the low cost per shot compared with other weapons, being approximately £10, far less than conventional missile systems. DragonFire also reduces reliance on stored munitions which can be crucial for situations where resupply is a challenge.
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