The UK Ministry of Defense and the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory have successfully tested the country’s first powerful DragonFire laser weapon. The gun was mounted on the Wolfhound armored car. The laser system is capable of deflecting airborne threats by demonstrating precision and power.

The DragonFire Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) program uses a highly concentrated beam of light to neutralize threats, providing a cost-effective and effective alternative to conventional munitions. This technology shows promise in the fight against enemy unmanned aerial vehicles and offers a solution for defensive operations.

The Wolfhound 6×6 armored vehicle is a heavy combat vehicle used by the British Army to provide logistical support to forward forces, capable of carrying a wide range of loads under the protection of its armored chassis. The armored vehicle has a high level of explosion protection against mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs); This makes it the most important tool for maintaining supply lines and supporting operations in a combat environment.

Equipped with a 6×6 all-wheel drive system, the Wolfhound can navigate difficult terrain, ensuring troops get the equipment and supplies they need regardless of their location.

In addition to its logistics capabilities, the armored car has been adapted to a variety of roles in the British Army, including as a platform for advanced technology systems such as powerful laser weapons. Its rugged design allows for the integration of advanced equipment, increasing its usefulness on the battlefield.

Raytheon’s 15-kilowatt laser system, built in partnership with a consortium of UK suppliers including Fraser Nash, NP Aerospace, LumOptica, Blighter Surveillance Systems and Cambridge Pixel, is being integrated into the Ministry of Defense’s Land Demonstrator programme. Currently, the system is being installed on the British armored vehicle Wolfhound, intended for user trials by the Ministry of Defence.

The system integration includes a radar from Blighter Surveillance Systems, a command and control system developed by Raytheon UK. Following drone tracking trials, the system will continue live-fire trials before being sent to the British Army for further testing.

Raytheon UK’s laser system is versatile and portable, can be mounted on different platforms and interoperate with other air defense systems depending on operational needs. To date, eight high-energy laser weapons have been delivered to the US military, which have proven effective against more than 400 targets during 25,000 hours of operation.

The successful integration of the DragonFire program and live-fire trials highlight the practicality and effectiveness of laser technologies in today’s defense strategies. This achievement is the culmination of the defense industry’s long-standing desire to use laser-guided energy weapons. Source