Britain tests laser weapons that cost less than £10 per shot (video)
The British Ministry of Defense has successfully tested the DragonFire laser energy weapon system to guarantee the destruction of any airborne targets within sight, local media report, citing the head of the kingdom’s defense ministry, Grant Shapp.
The range of the system is classified. Energy laser weapons can attack flying objects at the speed of light, cutting through their structure using an intense beam of light. The new product, which was developed by DSTL Laboratory specialists and QinetiQ, Leonardo, and MBDA, can be installed on almost all currently available platforms.
The system has excellent accuracy, equivalent to hitting a 1-pound coin from a distance of 1 km. In ten seconds of operation, the new weapon consumes as much energy as an ordinary household heater in an hour. This makes DragonFire a potentially more cost-effective alternative to existing air defense systems. The cost of a single DragonFire shot is less than £10.
The use of such advanced weapons could revolutionize the battlefield by reducing dependence on expensive ammunition and reducing the risk of collateral damage.
The DragonFire project received funding from the British Ministry of Defense. According to experts, the appearance of the new product on the battlefield is not far off. The transfer of the complex to Ukraine could significantly strengthen air defense, analysts agree.
