Royal Navy Acquires High-Power Laser Capability for Maritime Defense
The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded a £316 million contract to MBDA UK for the delivery of DragonFire laser weapon systems to the Royal Navy. The system, which has already demonstrated its effectiveness in destroying high-speed drones, will provide a ‘minimum deployable capability’ on at least one Type 45 destroyer by 2027. The contract follows recent trials of other directed-energy systems, including a radio-frequency weapon designed to counter drone swarms and an airborne laser defense system. MBDA UK will deploy the laser on a Type 45 destroyer, which will be installed around five years earlier than previously expected.