The UK government has announced that the DragonFire laser can shoot down drones at a cost of approximately $13 per shot. The British military has successfully tested this high-powered laser weapon designed to eliminate drones from the sky.
The UK government stated that the laser weapon, named “DragonFire”, has passed its first field test by shooting down several drones in the Hebrides Islands off the coast of Scotland.
DragonFire laser targeting an aerial object. (Image credit: UK Ministry of Defence)
Currently, drone attacks can be countered by firing expensive missiles costing up to $2 million each; however, the operational cost of this new laser is typically under £10 ($13) per shot, according to the UK government. The range is classified, but this weapon can target any visible objects.
Grant Shapps, the UK Secretary of State for Defence, stated in a declaration: “This advanced weapon has the potential to revolutionize the battlefield by reducing reliance on expensive munitions.”
Drone-targeting laser is a defensive weapon designed to neutralize or even cut through drones and subsonic missiles with greater precision and less destructive power compared to currently used missiles. Although these systems are not widely deployed, the power of the laser is sufficient to shoot down fast-moving hypersonic objects traveling at five times the speed of sound.
However, laser weapons must be fine-tuned; if the beam is too powerful, interaction with the air can cause the beam to disperse, while if the beam is too weak, the target remains unaffected. Additionally, water droplets can absorb or scatter the beam, making it less effective in adverse weather conditions.
Gianluca Sarri, a physics professor and laser expert at Queen’s University Belfast, noted in an article on The Conversation that the weapon’s accuracy on turbulent waters is unclear, which means its use in rough seas may be limited.
The UK government has stated that it will continue to invest in laser defense technologies and promote plans to implement them, although it is still unclear when and how further developments will occur.
