Overview
- Defence chiefs say the new funding will develop additional directed‑energy systems to complement DragonFire and bolster counter‑drone protection.
- DragonFire is planned for Royal Navy Type 45 destroyers from 2027 under a reported £300 million programme.
- MoD footage from trials over the Hebrides shows the laser striking and destroying a fixed‑wing drone, underscoring precision claims.
- Lower‑power lasers are being explored for integration into homeland air defences to guard priority military sites and critical infrastructure.
- Rising suspicious drone activity across at least 15 NATO countries is driving urgency, with Israel’s Iron Beam cited as a model for layered defence.