DragonFire was created by the UK Ministry of Defence. It will provide air defense for naval vessels at close range. It can also stop uncrewed enemies, such as flying robots, mortars, and protect military forces against rockets and mortars.
DragonFire is based on a novel coherent beam-combining technology that allows a scalable laser system to be built. The system combines two lasers that produce a single beam. The beam director allows for the laser to be connected to another laser, which can track targets with great precision. DragonFire laser is capable to destroy steel targets within two miles of its target. It has a power output of up to 50 Kilowatts. It is expected that it can deliver powerful laser effects even without ammunition or other materials.
DragonFire is currently under development by a UK consortium of industry and the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The consortium includes MBDA UK, GKN, Arke, QinetiQ, and BAE Systems. It's designed to destroy aerial targets, both on the ground and in the air, including enemy aircraft, drones and helicopters.
DragonFire has been under development in parallel with the MoD's Novel Weapons Programme. This program was created to assist the MoD in developing new weapon systems capable of dealing with modern threats. It also includes the development by Russia and China of hypersonic missiles. Scientists have been asked by Western officials to devise a countermeasure to these missiles.
DragonFire is built on the expertise of Dstl. Qinetiq also designed and developed a 50-kilowatt Phase-Combined Laser. The system also features advanced command and control systems as well as image processing capabilities. Next, combine the results from the two previous trials to determine how lasers can track targets at different distances.
The UK Dragonfire Consortium is currently building a laser weapon demonstrator to be used by the UK Ministry of Defence. Dstl gave a contract for the consortium to test the MoD's laser directed energie weapons in January 2017. The tests will confirm and deepen the UK's understanding of high-energy lasers.
The first DragonFire test was performed at the Porton Down science and test range in Wiltshire. This is where the new laser weapon was tested. It was then trialed against a variety of targets, including small drones and metal targets at different distances. Experts in multiple fields attended to witness the demonstration.
The trial was designed to test the physical limits of the laser weapon, which will ensure it can deliver high-power laser beams while maintaining pinpoint accuracy. The laser's ability to produce useful effects and provide protection for military forces was also confirmed by the trial. Next is engaging the demonstrator against actual-world targets. The trial will close with a large demonstration in 2019.
The DragonFire laser installation can intercept and destroy unmanned aircraft and missiles in midair. It also protects naval ships and ground forces. The laser installation is powered by electricity and does not use ammunition. It was developed in response to the MoD’s request for a new laser weapon.