We have a mind-blowing report stating the fact that UK has been able to successfully fire a high-powered laser weapon that’s as fast as the speed of light. Check out the latest reports about this below.
UK fires high-powered laser weapon
The UK has successfully conducted secret trials on a high-powered laser weapon, which is capable of firing at an aerial target at the speed of light for the first time.
The weapon, known as DragonFire laser-directed energy weapon (LDEW) system, proved to be extremely accurate. It can hit a £1 coin from half a mile away.
The laser was fired from a Ministry of Defence station located in the Hebrides. The weapon’s range and most of its technology details are classified, but it is known that its intense beam can cut through targets, including drones, which come in its line of sight.
Moreover, the cost per ‘shot’ is comparatively inexpensive, approximately £10, according to defense sources.
The Army and Royal Navy are exploring the possibility of using a new weapon system called DragonFire for future Air Defence missions.
This system is a collaboration worth £100 million between the Government’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and industry partners such as Leonardo and Qinetiq. It is not clear when DragonFire would be deployed for use.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapp stated, “This type of cutting-edge weaponry has the potential to revolutionize the battlespace by reducing the reliance on expensive ammunition while also lowering the risk of collateral damage. Investments with industry partners in advanced technologies like DragonFire are crucial in a highly contested world, helping us maintain the battle-winning edge and keep the nation safe.”
Dr. Paul Hollinshead, Dstl’s chief executive, said: ‘These trials have seen us take a huge step forward in realizing the potential opportunities and understanding the threats posed by directed energy weapons.’
The UK’s defense sector is investing in revolutionary technologies and making advancements to bring them into service.
Shimon Fhima, the Director of Strategic Programmes for the Ministry of Defence, noted that the DragonFire trials in the Hebrides demonstrated the country’s world-class technology, which can track and engage high-end effects from a distance.
In light of the ever-changing threats, the focus is on providing warfighters with capability, and the next phase of activity will be accelerated, according to the Daily Mail.
