Through an official statement published via government channels, the United Kingdom announced that it has awarded MBDA a major contract worth up to £316 million to advance the installation of the new DragonFire laser system on Royal Navy vessels, specifically on Type 45 destroyers. According to the information released, the goal is to begin delivering the weapon system from 2027 onward, in line with the estimates reported in April 2024.
Delving into some relevant details, it is worth noting that the decision to move forward with this contract comes after a series of recent tests carried out at the Hebrides Range, where the Ministry of Defence successfully used the DragonFire system to shoot down drones capable of flying at speeds of up to 650 km/h. As previously known from reports on its intended capabilities, the system validated its ability to conduct engagements at a cost of only £10 per shot, while maintaining a high degree of accuracy in doing so.
This is far from a minor development, considering that this will allow Royal Navy destroyers to participate in air-defence missions while drastically reducing the associated costs. As highlighted by the official statement from the UK MoD, the method is considerably more cost-effective than current missile-based solutions, which require “hundreds of thousands of pounds per shot.” The economic impact is also reflected in the creation of new jobs in the domestic industry, with estimates suggesting around 590 positions across Scotland and England.
Addressing these matters, the UK Minister for Defence Procurement, Luke Pollard, stated: “This high-power laser will place our Royal Navy at the forefront of NATO innovation, providing a cutting-edge capability to help defend the UK and our allies in this new era of threats. We are delivering on our Defence Strategic Review by supporting British industry and creating hundreds of additional jobs, making defence a driver of growth across the United Kingdom.”
For his part, MBDA UK Managing Director Chris Allam noted: “This latest DragonFire contract represents another significant milestone. It allows us to proceed with the next phase of the programme and reaffirms the UK’s intention to remain at the forefront of laser-directed energy weapons. The success of the recent DragonFire trials shows that our combined MoD and industry team has provided the Royal Navy with a truly revolutionary weapons system.”
Finally, it is important to emphasise that the United Kingdom is not only moving forward with the development and integration of the DragonFire system to modernise its arsenal in line with new air-defence requirements—particularly given the increasing use of unmanned systems. In this regard, it should be highlighted that the British Army is also working on a radio-frequency directed-energy weapon (RFDEW) system, which was first tested in December last year and would be especially useful against drone swarms.
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