The UK Ministry of Defense has conducted the first live tests of the DragonFire guided energy laser weapon system against aerial targets at the Hebridean training range in Scotland, according to a statement from the press service of the UK Government.
The release described the advanced military laser of the future as having been tested for the first time on English soil, underscoring the novelty and significance of the operation for British defense research and development programs.
Details in the statement omit a specific range for the laser cannon, but confirm its capability to engage any target that is visible. It also notes that the operating cost per shot remains contained, not exceeding £10 (about $12.68) each time the laser is fired.
According to the press service, the system’s accuracy is described as equivalent to hitting a £1 coin from a distance of one kilometer, a comparison meant to illustrate precision in practical terms for observers and analysts.
In September, British defense contractor Raytheon UK announced plans to conduct a test of a high-energy laser weapon system in Scotland in the near term, signaling continued momentum in the region’s laser weapons program and defense technology development.
Earlier reports from Russia discussed the conditions under which the Peresvet laser complex might be deployed, reflecting ongoing global interest in energy-directed weapons and their strategic implications for modern warfare.