**Location and Order Details**
MBDA UK has received an order to supply the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy with the DragonFire drone-zapping laser in a deal valued at £316 million ($414 million). The first of these directed-energy weapons is set to be fitted on a Royal Navy destroyer by 2027.
**Successful Trials**
The DragonFire laser system successfully neutralized a high-speed drone during trials at the Hebrides testing range in Scotland. This was noted by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in a statement released on November 20. The DragonFire system will be the first high-power laser capability deployed by a European nation.
**Cost Efficiency**
The system is designed to counter low-cost drones, which have become prevalent on modern battlefields. The MoD highlighted that the DragonFire laser costs around £10 per shot, significantly less than the hundreds of thousands of pounds required for traditional missile-based air defense systems.
**Official Remarks**
Luke Pollard, the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, expressed that this high-power laser positions the Royal Navy at the forefront of innovation within NATO, enhancing defense capabilities for the U.K. and its allies amidst evolving threats.
**Technical Collaborations and Advancements**
MBDA UK is collaborating with QinetiQ and Leonardo on the DragonFire project. The system is expected to be delivered nearly five years ahead of the original schedule and is reportedly accurate enough to hit a £1 coin from a kilometer away.
**Milestones and Future Plans**
Chris Allam, MBDA UK Managing Director, described the latest contract as a significant milestone, reinforcing the U.K.’s commitment to advancing laser-directed energy weapons. The first successful destruction of an aerial target was achieved in January 2024, with recent tests confirming the weapon’s capability to intercept drones flying at speeds up to 650 kilometers per hour.
**Investment and Economic Impact**
The U.K.’s Strategic Defence Review has supported the development of directed energy weapons, committing nearly £1 billion in additional investments for the current parliamentary term. This initiative is projected to create and sustain approximately 590 jobs across the U.K.
**Deployment Timeline and Broader Context**
MBDA is set to deliver the DragonFire systems to the Royal Navy by 2027, specifically for installation on a Type 45 destroyer. While MBDA is known primarily for missile systems like Mistral and the Aster series, it is also pursuing laser projects across its stakeholder countries, anticipating that directed-energy weapons will play a crucial role in future air defense frameworks. Additionally, partnerships with Rheinmetall and Leonardo involve developing various laser weapon systems for naval applications throughout Europe.
