Firestorm Innovations: Pioneering the UK’s Laser Frontiers

The DragonFire laser-directed energy weapon (LDEW) system has marked the UK’s inaugural high-output discharge of a laser armament targeting aerial entities during a test at the MOD Hebrides Range.

The recent evaluation, conducted by Dstl along with DragonFire affiliates – MBDA, Leonardo, and QinetiQ – builds upon a sequence of exceptionally successful assessments, including the initial static high-power laser discharge of a UK sovereign capability and showcasing the DragonFire system’s proficiency in tracking dynamic air and sea targets with remarkable precision over extended distances.

The UK DragonFire coalition combines the finest elements of UK industry and harnesses years of arms development expertise to deliver advanced multi-layered air defense capabilities within both terrestrial and marine arenas.

The DragonFire armament system is the outcome of a £100 million collaborative investment from both industry and the UK Ministry of Defence, collectively nurturing highly skilled UK employment in pioneering technologies that are ushering in a substantial transformation in the UK’s abilities in LDEW systems.

Chris Allam, Managing Director of MBDA UK, stated: “Together, the DragonFire associates and Dstl are illustrating the extraordinary UK capacity in laser-directed energy weaponry. The DragonFire system has proven its efficacy and we are closer than ever to possessing a distinct armament that will enable frontline commanders to confront the rapidly evolving threats they encounter.”

Mark Hamilton, Managing Director Electronics UK at Leonardo, commented: “UK DragonFire is an excellent example of how a collaborative UK enterprise model can effectively tackle major national research and technological challenges. Leonardo is leveraging decades of heritage in laser technology at our Edinburgh facility in this initiative: Our beam director technology is providing ultra-accurate tracking and pointing precision and stability, even at long ranges while managing high-density laser energy passing through it. We are delighted to have successfully evaluated the system against representative aerial objectives at varying distances, altitudes, and velocities, marking the first UK High Energy Laser (HEL) test against aerial entities within its operational perspective.”

Steve Wadey, Group Chief Executive Officer at QinetiQ remarked: “Achieving the UK’s premiere high-output discharge of a laser weapon against aerial targets at the QinetiQ-managed MOD Hebrides range signifies a remarkable achievement. Our leading-edge scientific and technological capabilities have been employed in the ongoing advancement of our sophisticated coherent beam-combining technology, enhancing performance and scalability. I take pride in the pivotal role we assume in partnership with industry colleagues and Dstl to aid in the development, testing, and evaluation of this sovereign capability.”