The website "Navy Recognition" reported that Britain is working on a project to equip its warships with DragonFire laser systems. According to the site, Britain intends to equip four warships with DragonFire systems by 2027. This accelerates the previous schedule, which initially planned for these systems to be installed on just one ship by that date.
The announcement of these plans follows an increase in Britain's defense budget by 2.2 billion pounds. This measure aims to raise defense spending to 2.36% of Britain's GDP by 2025, with a goal to reach 2.5% by 2027.
The laser system has been developed through collaboration between the British company DragonFire, the Italian company Leonardo, and the globally recognized arms and missile manufacturer MBDA. The British defense company QinetiQ also participated in the project.
The prototype of the DragonFire system was first unveiled in 2017, and in July 2022, tests were conducted to verify its capability to handle aerial and maritime targets. According to available information, the weapon has demonstrated its effectiveness in engaging a variety of targets, including aircraft and fast-acting unmanned military boats.