Britain’s DragonFire laser weapon has taken a major leap forward after blasting high speed drones out of the sky during tests on November 20 at the Ministry of Defence’s Hebrides Range in Scotland. The solid state laser system, developed for the Royal Navy, successfully detected, tracked, and destroyed drones flying at 351 knots, which is roughly 404 miles per hour. For a directed energy weapon, hitting targets at those speeds marks one of the most significant milestones in Britain’s laser weapons program so far, as reported by New Atlas.
The Ministry of Defence said the results show how rapidly DragonFire is maturing. When the system was first announced, it was not expected to enter service before 2032. Now the government says it will be installed on Type 45 destroyers by 2027 as part of their standard weapons loadout, five years ahead of schedule.
DragonFire also demonstrated several advanced capabilities that go beyond its raw destructive power. Engineers confirmed that the laser can strike a target the size of a one pound coin or a US quarter from a kilometer away, a level of accuracy that allows the system to damage or disable incoming threats without wasting energy. It also achieved an above the horizon targeting capability, which means the laser can engage aircraft or drones flying high enough that they appear above Earth’s curvature.
This solves a major limitation for directed energy systems, which traditionally cannot hit anything beyond direct line of sight. By networking DragonFire with radars, airborne sensors, and other shipborne assets, operators can now lock the laser onto targets at longer ranges. Exact distances remain classified, but officials noted that the system’s extended reach represents a major improvement in Britain’s naval defense technology.
Another challenge the program has overcome is stabilizing the laser while firing from the open sea. Ships pitch and roll constantly, meaning the beam must compensate in real time to remain locked on a high speed moving target. DragonFire’s targeting algorithms now handle these variables automatically, allowing it to fire accurately even under rough sea conditions.
To accelerate deployment, the UK government awarded MBDA a 316 million pound contract for integration and production. Defence Minister Luke Pollard said the system positions the Royal Navy at the forefront of NATO innovation and strengthens Britain’s defensive posture in a rapidly changing threat environment.