This was announced in a press release published on the British government’s website, Ukrinform reported.

“Such advanced weapons could reduce dependence on expensive ammunition as well as reduce the risk of collateral damage,” said Grant Shepps, head of Britain’s Ministry of Defence.

DragonFire’s range is stealthy, but it is a line-of-sight weapon that can attack any visible target at long distances. “The accuracy required is equivalent to shooting a £1 coin from a distance of one kilometer,” the paper says.

DragonFire is managed by the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) of the UK Ministry of Defence, in collaboration with MBDA, Leonardo and QinetiQ.

The UK Army and Royal Navy are considering the use of laser weapons as part of future air defense capabilities.

The DragonFire system is the result of a £100 million joint investment between the Ministry of Defense and industry.

Directed energy laser weapons can hit targets at the speed of light and use an intense beam of light to engage the target. This results in damage to the structure or greater consequences if the target is hit.

A 10-second laser burn is equivalent to using a conventional heater for an hour, making it a potential long-term, low-cost alternative to rocket. The cost of operating a laser is generally stated to be less than £10 per shot.

As reported, on October 27, 2022, a high-energy laser weapon against drones and offensive missiles was tested on a frigate of the German Navy.