Britain has unveiled a "game-changing" new laser weapon capable of hitting a £1 coin from more than a kilometre away.
The cutting-edge DragonFire directed energy weapon successfully shot down drones travelling at 650kph (400mph), double that of a Formula 1 racing car, during recent tests at the Ministry of Defence's Hebrides facility.
The groundbreaking trials marked the first time a British laser weapon has tracked, targeted and eliminated drones flying at such extreme speeds whilst operating beyond the visible horizon.
Each shot costs merely £10, far less than conventional missile systems that typically exceed hundreds of thousands of pounds per firing.
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Defence contractor MBDA UK has secured a £316million government contract to supply the advanced laser systems to the Royal Navy, with deployment scheduled for 2027.
The system will be installed on Royal Navy Type 45 destroyers, with deployment accelerated by five years from the original schedule.
Its rollout is expected to generate 590 jobs throughout Britain.
Scotland will benefit from 200 highly skilled positions, whilst the South West of England gains 185 jobs and the East of England secures 75 roles.
Britain has unveiled a high-tech new laser weapon named DragonFire
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"This high-power laser will see our Royal Navy at the leading edge of innovation in NATO, delivering a cutting-edge capability to help defend the UK and our allies in this new era of threat," celebrated Luke Pollard MP, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry.
Chris Allam, MBDA UK Managing Director, concurred and said the new system was “another significant milestone”.
He said: “It allows us to continue with the next phase of the programme and reaffirms the UK’s intent to be at the forefront of laser-directed energy weapons.
“The success of recent DragonFire trials are a testament to our MoD and Industry team delivering a truly game-changing weapon system into the hands of the Royal Navy."
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The laser is capable of hitting a £1 coin from over a kilometre away
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Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander emphasised the programme's significance of the programme for Scotland.
"This new £316million contract award, and news that DragonFire has successfully taken down high-speed drones in the latest trials at the MoD's Hebrides range, shows just how vital Scottish expertise is to the UK's national security.
"DragonFire is the latest in an impressive line of defence dividend wins for Scotland.
“The UK Government is transforming our defence sector into an even more powerful engine for growth because when we back our service personnel and Scottish industry, we keep ourselves and our allies secure whilst delivering skilled jobs and growth for communities and workers."
In a test, DragonFire successfully shot down drones travelling at 650kph
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The programme came together with the collaboration of MBDA UK, QinetiQ and Leonardo, with each contributing specialised expertise.
Mark Stead, Leonardo UK SVP Radar and Advanced Targeting, said the company had “Channelled its decades of experience developing world-leading lasers to produce DragonFire’s beam director, which harnesses and directs the powerful laser energy on target".
He added: "Today’s contract award to procure a Minimum Deployable Capability of DragonFire is testament to the hard work and dedication of all those involved in the programme, and the rapid progress made by the defence and industry partnership since its inception."
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