British Defense Ministry Fires Up Laser Weapon, Costs Only $12.7 a Shot

UK’s Dragonfire
Reduces Ammunition Dependency
US, Proliferation After Tests

The UK Ministry of Defense has successfully test-fired a high-powered laser weapon at an aerial target.

The new laser weapon, known for intercepting missiles and drones, costs about $7.5 per shot, making it cost-effective.

In January, the BBC reported that the UK had test-fired a high-powered laser weapon at an aerial target for the first time in the Hebrides, Scotland.

On the 14th, the BBC reported that the UK Ministry of Defense had released photos and videos of the laser weapon “Dragonfire” on its official website and X account the previous day.

Dragonfire is a laser-directed energy weapon developed by the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory under the UK Ministry of Defense in collaboration with private companies. The UK Ministry of Defense stated that the weapon is highly accurate, capable of hitting a coin from a distance of 1km (0.62 miles), and costs about $12.7 per shot, making it very affordable.

The video released the previous day showed Dragonfire firing a red laser at a target at high speed in Scotland in January. The UK Ministry of Defense added, “It will be a game-changer that can change the landscape of air defense systems.”

UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said, “This technology can reduce dependency on expensive ammunition while also lowering the risk of collateral damage.” The UK is expected to use this technology for its future air defense.

The UK Ministry of Defense stated that Dragonfire is more cost-effective than the “SM-2” ship-to-air interceptor missile used by the US Navy to intercept aircraft and missiles. Compared to the SM-2 interceptor missile, which costs over $1.97 million, Dragonfire costs only $12.7, which indicates significant cost savings.

Laser weapons are being fiercely developed in various countries around the world, including South Korea, the US, and China. They are directed-energy weapons based on lasers. The operation of the weapon involves technology that destroys a target by focusing high-powered energy directly on it, which some believe could be a technology that would appear in science fiction movies.

In addition to neutralizing targets at the speed of light, laser weapons can precisely hit targets and engage in continuous combat. This is why laser weapons are being highlighted as next-generation weapons. They are suitable for destroying drones frequently used in recent combat.

Meanwhile, the US is already leading in the development of laser weapons and is known to have gone through several tests. It is speculated that they will be powered up shortly.

In 2021, the US Navy successfully destroyed a maritime target by test-firing a laser weapon system demonstrator. The target in the Gulf of Aden was neutralized by a 150kW-class laser weapon system installed on the USS Portland amphibious assault ship for demonstration.

Not all views on laser weapons, which are being eyed as next-generation weapons, are positive. Experts say there are limitations and tasks related to laser weapons.

Given that laser weapons are still in the development stage, their performance has not been proven, and vulnerabilities in environmental conditions such as rain and fog are expected. This raises the question of whether they can be practically commercialized.

Boyd Col, director of the National Security Research Institute at the University of Colorado, pointed out problems such as the need for battery recharging when placing mobile laser weapons on ships or aircraft and the 10 seconds of target analysis time needed to destroy targets. Additional research, such as integrating existing military systems, is necessary to commercialize laser weapons.