Focus on the BIG picture.
Wednesday, Sep 09, 2026
Outside the box.
UK's DragonFire Laser: Expedited Production for Use Against Russian Drones in Ukraine by 2027
The UK defense secretary, Grant Shapps, has suggested sending a high-power laser weapon called DragonFire to Ukraine to counter Russian drones on the front line.
The weapon, which could have significant impacts on the European conflict, is expected to be ready for use by 2027, but Shapps aims to expedite production.
The laser was successfully tested against an aerial target in January and was originally scheduled for operation by 2032, but the timeline has been accelerated due to government procurement reforms.
The Defense Secretary, Ben Wallace, expressed the desire to accelerate the production of a new weapon for Ukraine, even if it's not 100% perfect.
The Ministry of Defence aims to speed up the process due to the rapidly changing threat environment.
The weapon, which can hit a £1 coin from a kilometer away, is currently scheduled for delivery in 2027.
However, the goal is to get it to a 70% complete stage and then deploy it, with further development taking place in the field.
A successful test of a laser-directed energy weapon (LDEW) took place in Scotland in January, marking a significant step towards bringing this cost-effective technology into military service.
LDEWs offer the advantage of an "unlimited magazine" and lower costs compared to missiles, as long as a reliable power source is available.
However, they can only target objects within their line of sight, which is a limitation compared to missiles.
The laser was successfully tested against an aerial target in January and was originally scheduled for operation by 2032, but the timeline has been accelerated due to government procurement reforms.
The Defense Secretary, Ben Wallace, expressed the desire to accelerate the production of a new weapon for Ukraine, even if it's not 100% perfect.
The Ministry of Defence aims to speed up the process due to the rapidly changing threat environment.
The weapon, which can hit a £1 coin from a kilometer away, is currently scheduled for delivery in 2027.
However, the goal is to get it to a 70% complete stage and then deploy it, with further development taking place in the field.
A successful test of a laser-directed energy weapon (LDEW) took place in Scotland in January, marking a significant step towards bringing this cost-effective technology into military service.
LDEWs offer the advantage of an "unlimited magazine" and lower costs compared to missiles, as long as a reliable power source is available.
However, they can only target objects within their line of sight, which is a limitation compared to missiles.