The British Navy will receive two DragonFire laser systems, but they will not be cheap

The UK Ministry of Defence has ordered two DragonFire combat laser systems, which were successfully tested early last year. The lasers will be installed on the UK's Type 45 guided missile destroyers. This decision was made as part of the country's new Strategic Defence Review, which envisages the gradual integration of laser weapons first into the Navy and later into the ground forces.

According to the UK Defence Journal, the total cost of the purchase was £240 million, equivalent to approximately $326 million. It is the first step towards deploying laser weapons on British ships, in line with the government's commitment to install such systems on a total of four ships by 2027.

DragonFire was developed by a consortium of companies Dstl, MBDA, Leonardo and QinetiQ. It is capable of shooting down air targets at an altitude of several kilometers. The main advantage of such a laser weapon is the low cost of a shot, estimated at less than $25. In addition, the system does not require ammunition storage, which greatly simplifies logistics.

DragonFire uses a 50 kW fiber-optic laser, equipped with a high-precision optical sensor and adaptive optics that stabilize the beam in difficult atmospheric conditions. This allows it to effectively destroy drones, artillery shells, speedboats and even cruise missile homing heads.

The contract for the supply of two laser systems is expected to run from November 2025 to March 2028, with the possibility of extension until 2032.

Similar laser weapons are also being developed in other countries. In particular, the Chinese Silent Hunter combat laser system has been spotted in the Russian air defense forces. According to Russian propaganda media, this system is used to combat Ukrainian reconnaissance drones. Laser weapons are also being developed in Japan, India, and many other countries.

Despite their high initial cost, laser weapons like DragonFire offer a practical solution to countering mass attacks by cheap drones. They allow aerial targets to be destroyed without the need for large amounts of ammunition, making them cost-effective and convenient.