This achievement opens the potential for utilizing low-cost laser programs as options to costly missiles for intercepting targets like drones.
The United Kingdom has achieved a vital breakthrough in trendy warfare expertise, efficiently testing a high-power laser weapon towards an aerial goal for the primary time, known as DragonFire. The trial, carried out in January, marked a milestone within the UK’s defence capabilities, as reported by BBC.
DragonFire is a new laser being developer by @dstlmod for the army.
Watch its first high-power firing towards an aerial goal.
https://t.co/D5sqIciICS pic.twitter.com/oI1xG9sK87
— Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) March 11, 2024
The precision weapon demonstrated its accuracy by hitting a goal as small as a £1 coin from a distance of 1 kilometre. This achievement opens the potential for utilizing low-cost laser programs as options to costly missiles for intercepting targets like drones.
The check, carried out on the Hebrides Range in Scotland, garnered reward from Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, who emphasised the potential of the expertise to scale back reliance on expensive ammunition and minimise collateral harm dangers.
Both the UK Army and Royal Navy are actually exploring the combination of this modern expertise into their future air defence methods. Meanwhile, the United States Navy has already carried out comparable laser programs on a number of of their destroyers.
How efficient is DragonFire?
In distinction to conventional missile-based interception strategies, the DragonFire system affords a cost-effective answer. The UK Ministry of Defence highlighted that working the DragonFire system for 10 seconds prices lower than operating a customary heater for an hour, with every shot costing lower than £10.
Developed by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) and trade companions, DragonFire represents a vital funding in advancing directed power weapons.
While the vary of the DragonFire system stays categorised, it’s identified to be a line-of-sight weapon able to participating any seen goal inside its vary.
The evolution of contemporary warfare has seen a shift in the direction of precision and cost-effective options, with directed power weapons like DragonFire providing new prospects for army operations.
As nations proceed to put money into such applied sciences, the panorama of warfare is predicted to bear additional transformation within the coming years.
