Breaking News
Ukraine Could Receive DragonFire Laser Weapon Systems from United Kingdom.
On 11 October 2024, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced that he discussed the provision of the British DragonFire laser weapon with his British counterpart, John Healey, during his visit to London. “We talked about DragonFire. We are actively working on this project,” Umerov said during a televised marathon.
DragonFire is a British laser-directed energy weapon (LDEW) developed by the UK DragonFire consortium. (Picture source: Army Recognition)
According to Umerov, the two defense ministers addressed Ukraine’s operational needs and highlighted that “direct contracts and investments in Ukraine’s defense industry are underway.” He also mentioned discussions on air defense, adding, “I hope we will be able to share more soon. Progress is being made.”
In April, former British Defense Minister Grant Shapps suggested that the DragonFire laser weapon could be supplied to Ukraine to counter Russian drones. Although the deployment of DragonFire is scheduled for 2027, Shapps expressed a desire to accelerate its production to make it available sooner.
The British Ministry of Defense emphasizes that this weapon is precise enough to hit a one-pound coin from a kilometer away, offering an economical alternative to missiles for neutralizing targets such as drones. The successful test of DragonFire, conducted in January at the Hebrides Range in Scotland, was described as a crucial step toward the adoption of laser-directed energy weapons (LDEW).
DragonFire is a British laser-directed energy weapon (LDEW) developed by the UK DragonFire consortium, which includes MBDA UK, Leonardo UK, QinetiQ, and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl). First presented as a technology demonstrator at the DSEI exhibition in London in 2017, this weapon aims to provide innovative defense against various threats, including drones and missiles. Initially, the program received £100 million in funding from the British Ministry of Defense and private industry partners, allowing DragonFire to benefit from advanced tracking and targeting technologies. Although impacted by delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, trials began in 2022 in the Outer Hebrides in Scotland, confirming the weapon’s ability to accurately track and strike both aerial and maritime targets.
DragonFire uses a “beam-combining” technology developed in the UK, enhancing the laser beam’s power density for greater effectiveness, even over long distances. Capable of striking a one-pound coin from a kilometer away, this precision makes DragonFire a cost-effective alternative to missile systems, with an estimated firing cost of only £10. Currently mounted on a Wolfhound armored vehicle, the system is expected to be deployed on Royal Navy ships as early as 2027, following an accelerated timeline initially set for 2032.