The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that the first DragonFire laser weapon will be installed on a Royal Navy vessel in 2027.
According to UK Defence Journal reports, this decision was made by Defence Secretary Luke Pollard in a written response on December 4 to Member of Parliament James Cartlidge.
“The Ministry of Defence plans to install the first DragonFire system on a Royal Navy ship in 2027,” Pollard said, adding that other installations “will be in line with the Defence Investment Plan.”
The UK’s MBDA has already secured a contract worth more than $420 million to deliver the first systems mounted on ships starting in 2027, with initial integration planned for a Type 45 destroyer.
The DragonFire is expected to be the first high-power laser weapon deployed by a European nation, a move that promises to put the Royal Navy “at the forefront of innovation within NATO,” according to Pollard.
Photo: UK Ministry of Defence. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
