A laser weapon to be used against 'aerial targets' has been developed in partnership with missile manufacturer MBDA.

The DragonFire Laser was developed by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, known as Dstl, as part of a £100 million partnership with armaments companies MBDA, Leonardo and QinetiQ.

MBDA employs more than 1,000 people at its facility in Lostock.

MBDA UK managing director Chris Allam said: “Together, the DragonFire partners and Dstl are demonstrating exceptional UK capability in laser directed energy weapons.

“The DragonFire system has been successfully proven to date and we are now closer than ever to having a unique weapon that will enable frontline commands to meet the rapidly changing threats they face.”

The Bolton News: MBDA's Lostock facilityMBDA's Lostock facility (Image: MBDA)

 

The new laser system’s latest trial has built on several similar trials in the past.

These include the first static high-power laser firing of a sovereign UK capability and demonstration of the DragonFire system's ability to track moving air and sea targets at long range.

Leonardo managing director electronics UK Mark Hamilton said: “UK Dragonfire is a great example of how a partnership-based UK enterprise approach can be successfully applied to a major national research and technology challenge.

“Leonardo is drawing on decades of laser technology heritage at our Edinburgh site in our work on the project.

“Our beam director technology is delivering ultra-precise tracking/pointing accuracy and stability, at long range, and whilst handling such high-power laser energy passing through it.

“We’re pleased to have successfully tested the system against a representative aerial target at varying ranges, altitudes and speeds, supporting the first UK High Energy Laser firing against aerial targets across its operational field of regard.”

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The Ministry of Defence and the partners involved say they hope this will be a key part of the UK’s armaments strategy for many years to come.

QinetiQ  group chief executive Steve Wadey said: “Achieving the UK’s first high-power firing of a laser weapon against aerial targets at the QinetiQ-managed MOD Hebrides range is a significant milestone.

“Our world-leading science and technology capabilities have been applied to the continued development of our advanced coherent beam-combining technology, which is delivering enhanced performance and scalability. 

“I’m proud of the critical role we are playing in collaboration with industry partners and Dstl to support the development, test and evaluation of this sovereign capability.”