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03 Jun 2025

Royal Navy Destroyer To Be Fitted With Dragonfire Laser

Royal Navy Destroyer To Be Fitted With Dragonfire Laser
The 'DragonFire' Laser Directed Energy Weapon seen here on display at Porton Down in Salisbury, UK. Image: U.K. MoD © Crown copyright 2024

A Type 45 destroyer will become the first Royal Navy vessel to be fitted with the DragonFire directed energy weapon (DEW) in 2027.

As per a statement today (Tuesday) from the U.K. Ministry of Defence (MoD), the move will form part of a wider £4 billion spending programme on autonomous systems and nearly £1 billion more on DEW during this Parliament.

The statement noted: “DragonFire is set to be the first high power laser capability entering service from a European nation, with the first Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer due to be fitted in 2027.”

The destroyer is set to be the first of four Royal Navy ships fitted with the DragonFire system, according to the Government. The statement added: “The new DEW capabilities will give the U.K. an edge, creating low-cost and sustainable alternatives to missiles to shoot down targets, such as drones, at the speed of light, reduce collateral damage and have a low-cost per shot, reducing reliance on expensive ammunition.”

Defence Secretary John Healey described the investments as “the most significant advance in U.K. defence technology in decades.”

The news follows hot on the heels of yesterday’s (Monday’s) publication of the U.K.’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR), a 144-page report making no fewer than separate 62 recommendations, which the Prime MInister and Defence Secretary said the Government “accepted in full.”

Among the naval measures it recommended was a shift towards greater use of autonomy, incorporating uncrewed and autonomous systems in high numbers over the next five years, and a targeted investment in the development of DEWs.  

It also recommended the Royal Navy:

  • Must play a new, leading and coordinating role in securing the UK’s critical undersea infrastructure;

  • Moves to a ‘hybrid’ carrier airwing, comprising crewed combat aircraft, autonomous collaborative platforms in the air, single-use drones, and, eventually, long-range missiles capable of being fired from the carrier deck;

  • Rapidly evolves anti-submarine warfare through the integration of underwater, surface, and airborne drones with Type 26 frigates, P-8 maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, and SSN attack submarines;

  • Rapidly evolves mine-hunting to be delivered with autonomous platforms;

  • Explores possible development from a Type 45 destroyer to a minimally crewed or autonomous air dominance system that could integrate directed energy weapons.

To coincide with the SDR publication, the Government has announced plans to build “up to a dozen” new attack submarines; up to 7,000 new U.K.-built long-range missiles; at least six new domestic munitions factories; spend more than £1.5 billion improving military housing; and more than £1 billion on emerging battlefield technology.

A new “Drone Centre” is also set to be founded to accelerate the introduction of small, uncrewed air systems into all three domains.  

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