It seems that the lifespan of drone weaponry may not be long, according to conclusions drawn from experiments conducted by scientists at a "very secret" defense laboratory known as Porton Down, located in Wiltshire, southwest England. They utilized laser beams as a cheaper alternative to traditional, expensive air defense systems to target a swarm of drones. By pulling the trigger, they emitted a beam of laser light capable of hitting hostile aerial objects, particularly drones, and bringing them down.
The range of this laser artillery remains classified for now; however, British Defense Ministry scientists proudly referred to its "precise accuracy" after military tests, to the extent that Dr. Paul Hollinshead, the CEO of the DSTL defense-scientific laboratory (which is part of Porton Down), predicted that the "Dragonfire laser cannon" would be used on the battlefield "sooner than people think," according to a report summarized by "Al Arabiya," published today on the British newspaper "The Times" website.
The report noted that 15-kilowatt laser beams destroyed a series of targets over a kilometer away, after an unnamed drone model was mounted on a British-made armored vehicle, the Wolfhound. Scientists are confident that the weight of the "Dragonfire" laser system can be reduced, allowing it to be fitted onto tanks or similar vehicles.
The system requires two operators, with a cost per shot amounting to just 10 pence sterling for energy, meaning 10 sterling to fire a laser beam that can take down a drone. In comparison, the famous American Patriot missile, which is used by Ukrainian forces to bring down Russian drones and missiles, costs over 3.5 million dollars. Nonetheless, the weapon known as Swinton will undergo further testing before being transferred to Ukraine.
The Dragonfire cannon is set to launch by 2027 at the latest, intended to use a concentrated laser beam of light to create a hole in the structure of flying bodies, particularly drones, in a process that experts compare to "welding metal, but from a distance." It is also planned for installation on ships to protect against drone attacks "like those conducted by the Houthis in the Red Sea," as mentioned by the newspaper.
