Recently declassified footage shows Britain’s new $130m DragonFire laser weapon in action

The UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) recently released declassified footage showing its latest DragonFire laser weapon in action.

This laser weapon can precisely finish off a target as small as a coin from a kilometer (0.6 miles) away.

DragonFire’s “never seen before” footage shows the laser weapon fully functional at a military test site in Scotland.

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Likewise, the best part about the DragonFire is that it’s relatively cheaper than other air defense systems.

One laser weapon shot only costs $13 (£10).

Meanwhile, conventional air defense missiles can cost up to a million dollars per shot.

To put its efficiency in a broader perspective, firing the DragonFire system for 10 seconds is the same as using a heater for an hour.

The MoD says that both the UK Army and Royal Navy are considering using this laser weapon technology in the future.

The UK has been working on the DragonFire system since 2017, which has cost them around $127 million (£100 million) to build.

“This type of cutting-edge weaponry has the potential to revolutionize the battlespace by reducing the reliance on expensive ammunition, while also lowering the risk of collateral damage,” Grant Shapp, the UK Defence Secretary, mentioned.

Laser-directed energy weapons (LDEWs) like the DragonFire fire a powerful light beam to lacerate their targets at the speed of light.

The primary advantage that such laser weapons can provide is that a successful shot to the target leads to its structural failure or worse.

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is developing the laser weapon system on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence.

“These trials have seen us take a huge step forward in realizing the potential opportunities and understanding the threats posed by directed energy weapons,” Dr. Paul Hollinshead, Dstl’s Chief Executive, said.

While defense systems are progressing forward, so are its targets.

In hindsight, there’s also the fastest plane ever for an advanced laser weapon system.

It’s like a cat and mouse chase and interesting times lie ahead.