The British Ministry of Defense is investing a cash injection of 2.6 billion euros in state-of-the-art laser weapons for the Royal Navy, among other things. Not one ship, as previously planned, but four ships are to be equipped with the British Dragon Fire system. The laser can hit a one-pound coin from a distance of one kilometer and shoot down drones from a distance of five kilometers.
The British Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, announced a corresponding increase in defense spending from April on Wednesday. The 2.6 billion euros are considered a “down payment” on the goal of providing 2.5 percent of GDP for defense each year from 2027. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer emphasized that the funds are to flow into modern technologies for the British armed forces.
This includes DragonFire – a British laser weapon system that was first presented to the public as a technology demonstrator in 2017. It is being developed by the UK DragonFire consortium, consisting of MBDA UK, Leonardo UK, QinetiQ and the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl).
MBDA boss calls for European cooperation on laser weapons
In a strategic speech in Paris last week, Eric Béranger, CEO of missile manufacturer MBDA, called on European nations to cooperate more closely in the development of advanced laser weapon systems.
Currently, the UK, France, Germany and Italy are each working independently on military energy weapons. Although each nation is making progress, Béranger outlined a long-term vision: “I am convinced that one day these nations will decide to cooperate. But that is not the case today.”
Such future cooperation is intended to make development more efficient and pool resources – an approach that takes account of the growing need for European defense autonomy.
The first live shot with a high-energy #laser weapon against a dynamic target was successfully carried out. Involved in the one-year trial so far: our #WTD71 and #WTD91 and the @deutschemarine together with industry.
More at https://t.co/MFbNBgNrqU pic.twitter.com/fVgTv2GSZv– Bundeswehr AIN (@BaainBw) October 27, 2022
Béranger believes MBDA is strategically well positioned to be at the forefront of this technological change – acting as a bridge between national programs. The company’s involvement in several projects in Europe underlines this holistic approach.
In the United Kingdom, MBDA is a partner in the DragonFire laser weapon system. In Germany, on the other hand, a system developed by Rheinmetall and MBDA Germany developed by Rheinmetall and MBDA Germany was successfully deployed on the German Navy’s F124 “Sachsen” frigate (-> current news about the Bundeswehr).
In France, MBDA has acquired a stake in laser specialist Cilas, the manufacturer of the Helma-P drone defense system. In Italy, MBDA is working together with Leonardo on the “Fire Unit Laser Directed Energy Weapon” (LDEW) project.
