UK laser cannon unveiled at DSEI

Under development by an MBDA-led consortium which includes Qinetiq, Leonardo-Finmeccanica, Arke, BAE Systems, Marshall and GKN the so-called Dragonfire system will be a 50kW class directed energy weapon designed for use on both land and sea.

Laser weapons have key advantages over traditional systems: the munition is potentially unlimited, and it operates at the speed of light so the time from when you say “fire” to the weapon hitting its target is more or less instantaneous.

According to the consortium the weapon – which is being optimised for use on land and at sea – will ultimately be used for short-range air defence, close-in protection for naval vessels, counter-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and protecting friendly forces from mortar and artillery attack.

Though the group is tight-lipped on the details of the technology, MBDA has previously revealed that it builds on earlier investments in the area of coherent beam combining - a technique in which beams from multiple fibre laser modules are combined to form a single, powerful, high quality beam. The weapon’s turret – which was unveiled at the London event – is the component responsible for ensuring that this beam hits its target.