DragonFire | Next Generation Laser | Dstl

The UK ‪@UKMinistryofDefence‬ #Defence Science and #Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has hosted the UK’s first high-powered, long-range #Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) trial on its ranges at Porton Down.
The trials involve firing the UK #DragonFire demonstrator at a number of targets over a number of ranges, demanding pinpoint accuracy from the beam director.
The trial improves the UK’s understanding of how high-energy lasers and their associated technologies can operate over distance and defeat representative targets. The ability to deliver high levels of laser power with sufficient accuracy are two of the major areas that need to be demonstrated in order to provide confidence in the performance and viability of LDEW systems.
The programme has developed a UK Sovereign ‘Centre of Excellence’ staffed with experts from multiple fields. LDEW have the potential to provide lower cost lethality, reduced logistical burden and increased effectiveness when compared to other weapon systems - the technology could have a huge effect on the future of Defence operations.”
The programme’s specialist industry partners are:
• @MBDA with overall responsibility for the system and have developed the advanced command and control (C2) and image processing capabilities;
• @Leonardo who have developed the Beam Director which can track and point at targets with pin-point accuracy;
• @QinetiQ laser experts who have built a phase-combined laser capable of generating in the order of 50kW of power; with the ability in the future to scale fire-power levels
Dstl’s Technical Partner, Ben, said:
“This trial is the culmination of design, development and demonstration activity over a number of years. DragonFire has already successfully demonstrated an ability to track targets with very high levels of precision and to maintain a laser beam on the selected aim-point. This trial has assessed the performance of the laser itself - the outcome shows that the UK has world-leading capability in the technologies associated with Laser Directed Energy Weapons (LDEW) systems.”
Chris Allam, UK Managing Director and Executive Group Director of Engineering at MBDA said:
“These successful trials are the latest step in accelerating delivery of a UK sovereign laser directed energy weapon (LDEW) capability. MBDA, Leonardo, Qinetiq and Dstl all working together are putting the UK at the forefront of research & technology in laser domain. The results from these trials have verified analysis and given the team confidence that DragonFire will offer a near term and unique capability.”
The trial is the culmination of significant joint investment by the UK MOD and industry over a number of years totalling in the order of £100 million.
Mark Hamilton, Managing Director Electronics UK, Leonardo said:
“The DragonFire project draws on our decades of high energy laser and beam director heritage to put the UK at the very forward edge of what is possible in laser technology. The results of this live trial, which saw our beam director integrated into the DragonFire system, were impressive. We are looking forward to the next stages of the programme.”
QinetiQ Chief Executive, Steve Wadey, added:
“We are delighted to have been involved in the trial, which has brought together the best of UK industry expertise in the complex weapons environment to work in close collaboration with Dstl. QinetiQ’s coherent beam-combining technology offers a laser system that can achieve an enhanced power density and increased engagement range, that is scalable for future uses. The trial has proven the performance of these laser technologies and their potential for adoption in Sovereign Defence Capabilities.”
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[@phillipblack]

Let’s test it on Alderaan

[@robbiew6177]

We want to see explosions, thank you.

[@TonyAbbey]

I was amazed to see that they are using a Meade telescope. Normally used for looking at the universe, so this is a pretty large diversion!

[@m4r3ckCRO]

they are building terminator with big laser guns

[@josephwong604]

Csn they simply demonstrate how it can destroy a pilotless aeroplane?

[@snowywelsh]

They already have.

[@paddy2661]

There's one on earth that will blow up a tank sitting on the moon , it's topsecret hidden under ground. .

[@Phil_AKA_ThundyUK]

Were I the MOD I would be asking questions : 1> How much does it cost per shot to fire a conventional version of a munition? 2> How much is it for a laser based version? 3> Given 2 is cheaper than 1 why can I trust the defence contractors to not bullshit me when it's in their interest to sell me more?

[@tonyromano8337]

1> 10$ per shot lol 💥

[@Phil_AKA_ThundyUK]

@cjjk9142 You saw the Dragonfire news too :)

[@hk78901]

Yeah but then you don't have to spend all the money procuring, transporting, loading and keeping track of ammo

[@O-8-15]

Please don't use materials that our laser cannot penetrate. Thank you!

[@gerry5134]

Fire the Lasers Zulu

[@Garret-nd6px]

Is that what to use on the one island of Hawaii?

[@helgdestadganzen9699]

Disons que vous avez abattu un laser d'un missile russe poignard. Comment allez-vous arrêter la fusée Poséidon? Elle peut aussi tirer sous l'eau?

[@Pedrovarni]

Looks like we'll need to build more nuclear powered ships then!

[@tonit9978]

If rain it' s a pain !

[@katoy9976]

Assets for Astors

[@predvcecerom]

GG ez

[@motbus3]

Enemy deploys a mirror

[@paddy2661]

EMF weapon takes out there electronics. Best to have no wars , just concentrate on saving the planet.

[@judyannehutchison5274]

WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG???????

[@peterhulme1500]

This looks very expensive , skilled maintenance and operation . I assume some other more basic weapon will have to be removed from any warship so fitted \/

[@darrens3]

Initial outlay will be more but when missiles cost tens to hundred of thousands to manufacture and then fire, whereas this costs way less than that and the 'round' or beam being fired basically costs the price of the turbine used to generate it (which will already be on the vehicle anyway) there's no comparison. Once fully developed everytime it's used it will effectively be saving money.

[@ModernNeandertal]

I wonder what happens to the laser beam in rain or does it just burn through. Could it be used against a sub?

[@snowywelsh]

​​@@ModernNeandertalInteresting thought

[@boredscientist5756]

​​​Hummmm, I would say it burns through. Indeed the change of refractive index should deviate the beam slightly, but the peak power is so high, that the water would vaporize anyway, my 2 cents (interesting question btw) About using that against submarine, clearly not, the dispersion would be quite high, thermal lensing and blooming would occur at this power for sure, so clearly impossible, no matter what! Ps: making high power laser is my job@@ModernNeandertal

[@misterG2006]

Nice! Probably doesn't work if the missile is spinning though(?). The laser needs to create a hotspot, so any rotation of the missile body and it won't work.

[@joshrussell2542]

@@LawrenceReitan Yeah this random 17 year old clearly knows more than 100s if not thousands of engineering and weapons systems staff. So his advice is clearly correct, may aswell scrap the project now...

[@NimbleBard48]

Exactly my thought when I see these random expert comments that seemingly found a way to bypass what the whole research departament surely never thought about.@@joshrussell2542

[@snowywelsh]

Good point

[@garylee4228]

tHIS WAS 20 YEARS AGO!! CATCH UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@lizzietaylor5407]

Haha! So old and dated. No progress in 20 years then. Show us your laser destroying a supersonic incoming missile....air to ground, air to air, ground to air or even a ballistic heavyweight with multiple nuclera warheads (mock warheads please). Sea Slug a hundred years ago destroyed an Exocet in flight, just saying.

[@Cartoonman154]

Are you talking about the laser that took up an entire 747?

[@TheSm1thers]

It's much cheaper to use a laser for £10 on drones than to use missiles.