The UK has taken another step forward in the use of directed energy by confirming that the DragonFire system shot down high-speed drones at the MOD Hebrides test site in Scotland.
The experiments used targets flying at up to 650 kilometers per hour, providing the first British demonstration of over-the-horizon tracking and engagement. The Ministry of Defense also announced that a contract worth approximately 414 million US dollars was signed to install a laser system on the Type 45 destroyer starting from 2027.
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UK government, DragonFire He emphasizes that the system offers high precision at long range and extremely low firing cost, which can transform the future of air defense. Officials such as Luke Pollard and Douglas Alexander say this technology is coming to the UK NATO It puts the military at the forefront of innovation and strengthens the role of Scottish industry in national security.
MBDA UK, QinetiQ ve Leonardo Manufacturers such as those developing the technology report that the program is progressing rapidly to bring a groundbreaking capability to the country that is unique in Europe.
DragonFire thus stands out as the first high-power laser system to enter service in a European country, making it one of the most advanced directed energy systems available in the bloc.
Source: UK Defence Journal | Photo: X @DefenceHQ | This content was created with the help of artificial intelligence and reviewed by the editorial team
DragonFire is a laser directed energy weapon designed and built entirely in the UK.
It can hit a target the size of a £1 coin from a kilometre away, costs only £10 a shot, and just successfully took down a high-speed drone during testing.
Read more ➡️ pic.twitter.com/Edc0lFnCKG— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) November 20, 2025
