The UK’s newest leap in directed-energy defense is officially moving forward. The Ministry of Defence has awarded a $400-million-equivalent contract to MBDA to deliver its high-power DragonFire laser weapon system to the Royal Navy—just weeks after the system proved it could take down high-speed drones in testing.
DragonFire isn’t a lab demo anymore. During recent trials at the Hebrides test range, the system locked onto and destroyed drones moving at speeds similar to high-performance race cars. Engineers behind the program highlight its extreme precision, explaining that the laser can focus enough energy to hit a target roughly the size of a quarter from more than half a mile away.
Cost is one of its biggest advantages. Each laser shot costs about the same as a cup of coffee—dramatically cheaper than traditional missile intercepts that can run tens of thousands of dollars per launch. With threats like drone swarms and low-cost unmanned aircraft accelerating faster than traditional defenses, a system with near-limitless “ammo” and low per-shot cost is a significant shift.
The new contract will support hundreds of engineering and manufacturing jobs as the program moves from experimentation into real-world deployment. The Royal Navy is expected to begin installing DragonFire systems in 2027, positioning it as one of the first large-scale laser-weapon rollouts in Europe.
For defense and electronics engineers, DragonFire signals a broader trend: precision, electrically powered weapons that deliver energy at the speed of light and don’t rely on physical munitions. As drone threats continue to evolve, directed-energy systems like this are becoming a critical part of next-gen air-defense architectures.
Original Release: Boost for Armed Forces as new laser weapon takes down high-speed drones – GOV.UK
