The United Kingdom has taken another step forward in the use of directed energy by confirming that the DragonFire system shot down high-speed drones during tests at the MOD Hebrides range in Scotland.
The experiments involved targets flying at up to 650 kilometers per hour and marked the first British demonstration of beyond-the-horizon tracking and engagement. The Ministry of Defence also announced a contract worth approximately US$ 414 million to install the laser on a Type 45 destroyer starting in 2027.
The British government highlights that DragonFire offers long-range precision and an extremely low cost per shot, factors that could transform the future of air defense. Authorities such as Luke Pollard and Douglas Alexander state that the technology places the UK at the forefront of military innovation within NATO and reinforces the role of Scotland’s industry in national security.
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Manufacturers involved in the technology, including MBDA UK, QinetiQ and Leonardo, say the program is progressing rapidly to deliver a disruptive and unprecedented capability in Europe.
DragonFire thus becomes the first high-power laser to enter service in a European nation, establishing itself as 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 AI 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.
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pic.twitter.com/Edc0lFnCKG— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) November 20, 2025
