The UK government’s in-house advanced
military research and development organisation, DSTL, has released further
information on progress on the Dragonfire Laser Directed Weapon (LDW). Although
detailed still images are not yet released, a de-classified video was shown in
mid-March 2024 following the successful firing trials in Scotland on a remote
range where the test firing unit destroyed small airborne targets for the first
time.
DSTL’s Senior Programme Partner, Ben
Maddison, explained how the laser unit test proved that it could direct an
intense beam of light with pin-point precision. It was so accurate, he said,
that it could hit a £1 coin at a distance of 1 kilometre. Although a coloured
beam was shown in the video this was for illustrative purposes only and DSTL
pointed out that in use it would not create a tell-tale trail seen by the human
eye. The tests involved firings at drones and a variety of different materials,
as would be used in the construction of a UAV or conventional military
aircraft. Examples were shown of components that has been melted, with holes
torn into the structural material in such a way as to make it very clear that
this would cause catastrophic damage in an operational situation. A typical
small surveillance drone, targeted by the laser weapon was melted into a single
burnt shape.
Following the initial test, work is
continuing to take this future capability forward, and it was suggested that it
could be operational in UK service within five years. A particularly memorable
admission was that a LDW could reduce a single shot cost to as little as £10,
compared to many thousands of pounds for even small missiles, which require
more complex launchers, preparation and storage space. And even the fastest
reacting missile launch systems cannot match the potential capability of a
multi-axis ranging laser weapon mounting. It was confirmed that the UK believes
that this new weapon could become a real transformative air defence technology,
allowing near instantaneous engagement with multiple and fast flying targets.
With threats to naval ships and
high-value land targets increasing from a mix of hypersonic missils, precision
glide bombs, and swarming armed drones, the bringing into service in due course
of a new generation of laser weapons offers a counter that is realistic,
affordable and a practical solution with wide applications. Having shown that
Dragonfire is proving to live up to high expectations even at this early
demonstration stage, the continuing development effort is looking into all the
associated equipment and support needs, including those relating to the
generation of the energy to power up and sustain the capability of laser
directed weapons. Appropriately one of the short video scenes depicted a
Dragonfire LDW unit on a frigate accompanying an aircraft carrier. Protection
of key surface assets could also be greatly enhanced by ground-based lasers
added to and integrated with other layered AD weapons.
The
author of this piece, Richard Gardner, seen in the photo above.