UK’s DragonFire laser system takes out drone, metal targets in latest test

The DragonFire directed energy system is a 50 kilowatt laser developed in the UK. (Leonardo UK)

WILTSHIRE, England — DragonFire, the UK Ministry of Defence’s Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW), is one step closer to becoming an operationally “viable” solution after completing its latest round of live fire tests that included targeting a small drone and metal targets designed to approximate ship and aircraft skin.

On Tuesday, the MoD-sponsored Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) announced it had successfully completed tests of the high energy laser (HEL) at its range facility in Porton Down, Wiltshire, on Oct. 28.

According to Dstl officials, tests confirmed DragonFire’s capability to generate “useful effects” against a variety of targets. The weapon system features a 50-kW-class, solid-state and transparent laser.

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Speaking to Breaking Defense at the range complex, Dstl…