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United Kingdom Begins Installing Military Laser on Warships. Weapon Is More Accurate, Faster, and More Cost-Effective Than Conventional Munitions
The Royal Navy has announced that it plans to install the DragonFire laser weapon on four warships by 2027. The decision follows a series of successful tests with the new system, which promises precision, cost savings, and lower collateral damage risks.
Technology Will Be Delivered Ahead of Schedule
The weapon, developed with British technology, was highlighted in January 2024. At that time, DragonFire destroyed an aerial target with a high-power test shot.
The project cost around £100 million, equivalent to R$ 632 million, and is led by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), in partnership with the Ministry of Defence.
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Defence Procurement Minister Maria Eagle stated that the weapon will be available five years earlier than initially planned. She noted that the system “will protect our Armed Forces and allow us to learn by doing.”
High Accuracy and Lower Cost per Shot
Defense Secretary Grant Shapp declared that the new weaponry could transform the battlefield: “This type of cutting-edge weapon has the potential to revolutionize the battlefield space, reducing reliance on expensive munitions while decreasing the risk of collateral damage.”
One of the highlights of the laser system is the cost per shot. According to the British government, each shot costs less than €10, about R$ 62. Ten seconds of firing is equivalent to the cost of running a domestic heater for an hour.
How the DragonFire Laser System Works
DragonFire is a solid-state weapon with a power output of 50 kW. The system uses intense light beams based on fiber optics. Authorities claim that the shot reaches the speed of light.
During tests, the weapon was mounted on a tower with an electro-optical camera and a secondary laser. These elements are used to locate and focus on targets. The accuracy is also impressive: the British assure that it can hit a coin from a kilometer away.
Technical Information Remains Confidential
Despite advances in research and preparations for use on ships, British authorities have decided to keep the technical details of the laser weapon confidential. The expectation now is to monitor the next steps until 2027, when DragonFire is expected to officially become part of the Royal Navy’s fleet.
With information from Olhar Digital.
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