The weapon – designed to shoot down missiles, planes, drones and even satellites with “pin point accuracy” – has cost over £140 million to develop.
The weapon can hit a target the size of a pound coin from more than a mile away.
Scientists at the Defence, Science and Technology Laboratory believe the DragonFire could be ready to be installed on Royal Navy warships within the next five years.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: “This type of cutting-edge weaponry has the potential to revolutionise the battlespace by reducing the reliance on expensive ammunition, while also lowering the risk of collateral damage.”
DSTL added: “Firing it for 10 seconds is the cost equivalent of using a regular heater for just an hour and therefore it has the potential to be a long-term low-cost alternative to certain tasks missiles currently carry out.”
“The cost of operating the laser is typically less than £10 per shot.”
The laser weapon essentially burns a hole in its target. It is said to be particularly effective against drones and missiles, breaking them up mid-air.
And the breakthrough tests – carried out in in the Hebrides have prompted hopes the laser weapons could be a far cheaper method of defending military assets.
Sea Viper missiles fired this month from HMS Diamond, a Type 45 destroyer, against drones and missiles, cost around £1 million each.
The weapon was designed by DTSL, MBDA, Leonardo and QinetiQ.
Chris Allam, Managing Director, MBDA UK, said: “Together, the DragonFire partners and Dstl are demonstrating exceptional UK capability in laser directed energy weapons. The DragonFire system has been successfully proven to date and we are now closer than ever to having a unique weapon that will enable frontline commands to meet the rapidly changing threats they face.”
Mark Hamilton, Managing Director Electronics UK, Leonardo, said: “UK Dragonfire is a great example of how a partnership-based UK enterprise approach can be successfully applied to a major national research and technology challenge.”
“Leonardo is drawing on decades of laser technology heritage at our Edinburgh site in our work on the project: Our beam director technology is delivering ultra-precise tracking/pointing accuracy and stability, at long range, and whilst handling such high-power laser energy passing through it.”
“We’re pleased to have successfully tested the system against a representative aerial target at varying ranges, altitudes and speeds, supporting the first UK High Energy Laser (HEL) firing against aerial targets across its operational field of regard.”
Steve Wadey, Group Chief Executive Officer, QinetiQ, said: “Achieving the UK’s first high-power firing of a laser weapon against aerial targets at the QinetiQ-managed MOD Hebrides range is a significant milestone.”
“Our world-leading science and technology capabilities have been applied to the continued development of our advanced coherent beam-combining technology, which is delivering enhanced performance and scalability. I’m proud of the critical role we are playing in collaboration with industry partners and Dstl to support the development, test and evaluation of this sovereign capability.”
