Defense companies are investing heavily to accelerate the development of cost-effective technologies capable of destroying drones. A striking image features Boeing’s laser weapon system showcased in 2023 alongside a drone it has incapacitated. With the proliferation of small, affordable drones becoming a formidable attack method on the battlefield, nations are on the lookout for economically viable countermeasures. The Financial Times reports that companies like America’s RTX, Europe’s MBDA, and the UK’s QinetiQ are funneling substantial resources into creating low-cost, high-powered laser weapons that can penetrate metal and disable electronic devices. The UK Ministry of Defence’s DragonFire project has already made significant strides.
Earlier this year, the UK and the US were compelled to use missiles worth millions of dollars to take down drones launched by the Houthi movement in the Red Sea, aimed at attacking commercial vessels, emphasizing the issue of “cost asymmetry.”
James Black, a defense researcher at Rand Europe, highlighted the economic implications: “Intercepting and destroying a $100 or $1,000 drone with a missile costing over a million dollars is not a sustainable approach.”
The U.S. Army has successfully used high-powered lasers to shoot down drones in the Middle East, marking a significant milestone. Militaries in the UK, France, Russia, China, and South Korea are all actively developing high-powered directed energy weapons.
According to the Financial Times, the UK’s DragonFire laser weapon has progressed to the point where it is expected to be deployed on naval vessels by 2027, five years ahead of schedule. DragonFire can fire at airborne targets at a cost of about £10 per shot, boasting precision that could hit a one-pound coin from a distance of one kilometer.
The DragonFire project is the result of collaboration among 150 engineers and scientists from MBDA, QinetiQ, and Leonardo, with a prototype rated at 50 kW. While the range remains confidential, its operational use may face limitations; the system needs to be mounted on stable platforms and requires adequate power supply and suitable weather conditions. Additionally, the construction costs for laser systems are high, meaning significant savings may not be realized.
