The British Royal Navy is set to advance its capabilities with the expedited deployment of the cutting-edge DragonFire laser weapon system, marking a strategic enhancement in defense technology. In response to the escalating drone and missile threats, particularly in strategically sensitive areas such as the Red Sea, the Royal Navy is fast-tracking the operationalization of the DragonFire directed-energy weapon (DEW) system aboard its warships by 2027—five years ahead of the original schedule.
Amidst recent events that have underscored the vulnerability of naval assets to aerial threats, the Royal Navy’s destroyers, such as HMS Diamond and HMS Richmond, have showcased their proficiency by employing Sea Viper and Sea Ceptor missile systems against Houthi rebel drones and missiles. Nevertheless, the need for a comprehensive defense strategy has become increasingly apparent. Captain Matt Ryder, Head of Above Water Battlespace in the Royal Navy’s Develop Directorate, emphasizes that “the quantity and varied sophistication of air and missile threats seen in the Southern Red Sea” solidifies the compelling case for laser weapons. The DragonFire, he notes, adds an “additional layer of defense,” and touts the potential for a “much lower cost per shot” alongside addressing the limitations set by finite onboard missile storage.
DragonFire, the brainchild of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and industrial partners including MBDA, Leonardo, and QinetiQ, is a DEW capable of engaging aerial targets at the speed of light. Its remarkable economic advantage—each laser burst costs less than £10 ($12)—stands in stark contrast to the hefty expenses incurred by traditional interceptor missiles. This fiscal efficiency does not compromise its precision, offering “accuracy equivalent to hitting a pound coin from a kilometre away,” as per the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s statement on April 23.
The UK Defence Procurement Minister James Cartlidge has reinforced the government’s commitment to this initiative, stating that “the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) had committed to accelerating the DragonFire LDEW into operational capability.” The DragonFire system, which has successfully undergone a series of tests, including UK’s first high-power laser engagement of aerial targets, reflects the UK’s determination to remain at the vanguard of military technology.
In terms of deployment, the DragonFire LDEW system, encompassing a footprint roughly the size of a TEU shipping container and powered by efficient amplifiers, is deemed suitable for installation on multiple Royal Navy vessels. With the Type 23 frigates and Type 45 destroyers currently undergoing refits, there is speculation that these ships may be the platforms to host the DEW system, although official specifics are yet to be disclosed.
Relevant articles:
– Royal Navy to Fast-Track DragonFire Laser Weapon in Response to Drone, Missile Threats, sofrep, 04/25/2024
– DragonFire: UK Royal Navy to get ships with laser beams by 2027, Naval Technology, Thu, 25 Apr 2024 16:17:58 GMT
– Royal Navy Destroyer HMS Diamond shoots down Houthi missile, Naval News, Thu, 25 Apr 2024 22:39:51 GMT
– HMS Diamond downs a missile in Gulf of Aden attack as tensions mount, Portsmouth News, Thu, 25 Apr 2024 19:10:00 GMT
– Minsk developing its own laser weapons on ‘new physical principles,’ Belarusian Defense Ministry claims, Yahoo News Canada, Wed, 24 Apr 2024 13:47:00 GMT