The United Kingdom plans to integrate the DragonFire high-energy laser weapon onto its Type 45 destroyers by 2027, positioning itself as the first European state to deploy an operational shipborne laser. Officials describe the capability as a transformative step in naval air defense, providing ultra-low-cost engagement options against drones, loitering munitions, fast attack craft, and potentially missiles. Early trials show the system can track and neutralize small targets at tactically meaningful ranges. DragonFire, developed by MBDA UK with QinetiQ and Leonardo, combines outputs from multiple fiber-laser modules using coherent beam-combining to produce a high-quality, high-power beam in the short-wave infrared spectrum. Its precision and beam stability allow concentrated energy delivery at significant distances, reshaping how the Royal Navy responds to saturation threats and low-cost aerial attacks.
