The UK Ministry of Defence has successfully tested its DragonFire high-power laser system, intercepting high-speed drones at up to 403 mph and signing a $413 million contract with MBDA UK. The system, which reportedly costs about $13 per shot, will be deployed on the Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyers from 2027. DragonFire aims to provide a cost-effective alternative to conventional missiles and is being developed by MBDA in partnership with QinetiQ and Leonardo, with its initial ship integration planned to test its viability under maritime conditions.
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Recent trials of the UK’s DragonFire laser successfully destroyed high-speed drones, demonstrating above-the-horizon tracking and pinpoint accuracy. The Ministry of Defence has awarded a £316 million contract to MBDA UK, with plans to install the system on a Type 45 destroyer by 2027. DragonFire, a low-cost, high-precision system, is poised to be at the forefront of laser directed energy weapons and will provide the Royal Navy with a cutting-edge capability. This initiative highlights the importance of Scottish expertise and collaboration within the defense industry to bring advanced technology to warfighters.
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China showcased its advanced military capabilities during a Beijing parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II. Among the unveiled weaponry were the DF-5C intercontinental ballistic missile and the LY-1 shipborne laser weapon system, demonstrating China’s advancements in strategic nuclear deterrence and directed-energy weapons. The event also included various drones and missiles, highlighting the sophistication of its defense-industrial complex. The parade, attended by leaders like Putin and Kim Jong Il, served as a message to the U.S. and its allies, signaling China’s growing military might and ambition.
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Ukraine’s newly unveiled laser weapon system, Tryzub, is shown in a field trial video successfully engaging ground targets and disrupting a drone’s camera. The system, operationally deployed and capable of engaging aerial targets up to 5 kilometers, boasts a 3-kilometer range against cruise and ballistic missiles. While currently manually operated, future iterations are planned to include automated targeting. Its development, completed in months, underscores a strategic shift towards laser-based air defense systems.
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Ukraine’s Armed Forces are integrating laser weapons into mobile fire groups to bolster their defense against Russian Shahed drones and other aerial threats. These laser systems, already successfully tested against aircraft at altitudes over two kilometers, will supplement existing defenses like machine guns and thermal imaging. The initiative reflects a broader Ukrainian effort to develop and deploy domestically produced counter-drone technologies, showcasing a commitment to technological innovation in the ongoing conflict. This advancement represents a significant shift in counter-drone capabilities, offering a potent new weapon against aerial attacks.
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Ukraine’s military has successfully deployed its first laser weapon, “Tryzub,” on the battlefield, targeting specified objects at certain altitudes. This deployment, marking Ukraine as one of only a few nations possessing such technology, is a key component of the country’s strategy to improve air defenses against drone threats, particularly the prevalent use of Iranian Shahed drones by Russia. While operational details remain undisclosed, the weapon’s effectiveness is currently limited, highlighting the challenges of scaling deployment and integrating the system into existing air defense networks. Future success depends on overcoming logistical, technical, and environmental hurdles.
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Ukraine’s military is testing a domestically produced laser weapon system, Tryzub (Trident), capable of engaging aircraft at altitudes exceeding two kilometers. This system, comparable to similar U.S. and British technologies like LaWS and DragonFire, demonstrates successful precision targeting at extended ranges. Ukrainian specialists are actively improving and expanding the Tryzub’s capabilities. With this development, Ukraine joins a select group of nations possessing operational laser weaponry.
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Ukraine’s military has announced the operational deployment of a new laser weapon system capable of destroying airborne targets, a significant development in the ongoing conflict. This laser weapon, reportedly named ‘Tryzub’ – Ukrainian for ‘trident’ – is said to have a range of up to two kilometers. The commander of Ukraine’s drone forces personally confirmed its operational status, highlighting its effectiveness in shooting down aircraft at altitudes exceeding two kilometers.
The announcement paints a picture of a rapidly evolving technological landscape on the battlefield. While the specifics remain scarce, the fact that this system is reportedly already operational represents a notable leap forward in Ukraine’s defensive capabilities against the ongoing drone threat.… Continue reading
Ukraine’s newly established Unmanned Systems Forces have successfully deployed a laser weapon system, Tryzub, capable of downing aircraft at altitudes exceeding two kilometers, making Ukraine one of only five nations with this technology. Simultaneously, significant progress is being made in developing “mother drones,” extending the range and capabilities of smaller strike drones to over 70 kilometers. These advancements represent a substantial technological leap for Ukrainian defense, reflecting ongoing efforts to scale and improve both laser and drone technologies. Colonel Sukharevskyi emphasizes the effectiveness and ongoing development of these systems.
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The UK Ministry of Defence successfully tested a new laser weapon system, mounted on a Wolfhound vehicle, that successfully destroyed a drone at the Radnor Range in Wales. The system uses advanced sensors and tracking for precise targeting, offering a cost-effective and virtually unlimited-ammunition alternative to traditional weaponry. This achievement showcases British military innovation and engineering prowess, a significant advancement in the nation’s defense capabilities. The laser weapon was developed through a collaboration between UK and US defense organizations and industry partners, including Raytheon UK. This follows recent successful tests of other advanced military technologies in the UK.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood