British Royal Navy to deploy Europe’s first laser weapon on Type 45 destroyers by 2027.

The United Kingdom plans to install the DragonFire high-energy laser weapon on its Type 45 destroyers by 2027, making it the first European power to field a shipborne laser in front-line service. The move signals a major shift in NATO naval defence, lowering engagement costs and reshaping how warships counter drones and incoming missiles.

The British Royal Navy is preparing for what officials describe as a significant leap in shipboard air defence as the DragonFire laser weapon system moves toward installation on Type 45 destroyers within the next three years. British defence leaders say early trials have shown the system can track and burn through small targets at tactically relevant ranges, and program officials expect the integration effort to accelerate once shipboard power and cooling modifications are finalised. If fielded on schedule, the United Kingdom will become the first European nation to deploy a high-powered laser at sea, a milestone that senior Royal Navy officers say reflects both operational demand and pressure to counter inexpensive aerial threats.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

The United Kingdom plans to install the DragonFire high-energy laser weapon on its Type 45 destroyers by 2027, making it the first European power to field a shipborne laser in front-line service. (Picture source: British MoD)

Designed by MBDA UK in collaboration with QinetiQ and Leonardo, the DragonFire laser weapon system is not merely a technological demonstrator. As a combat-grade system, it offers operational utility against a growing array of threats. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, or drones), loitering munitions (explosive drones capable of waiting in an area before striking), fast-attack craft (small, swift armed boats), and possibly incoming missiles all challenge modern warships. With this new capability, the Royal Navy is expected to transform its response to saturation attacks, particularly those involving low-cost, high-volume aerial threats.

At the heart of DragonFire is a 50-kilowatt-class high-energy laser, operating in the short-wave infrared spectrum (light wavelengths just beyond visible red light). Producing the laser beam involves a coherent beam-combining technique: outputs from multiple fibre-laser modules are precisely aligned and merged into a single, high-intensity beam. As a result, the system achieves exceptional power density and beam quality, enabling precise energy delivery at extended ranges.

During recent live-fire trials at the British Ministry of Defence’s Hebrides missile range, DragonFire successfully demonstrated its ability to track, engage, and destroy drones flying at speeds exceeding 650 km/h (approximately 404 mph). It achieved direct hits on fast-moving targets up to 1 km away, with sub-millimetric precision reportedly capable of striking an object the size of a £1 coin at that distance. The system’s targeting architecture integrates electro-optical sensors (devices using light to detect and track objects), high-speed beam steering mirrors (components that rapidly direct the laser beam to targets), and a low-power tracking laser (a laser used to follow targets before firing the main weapon), allowing the weapon to lock onto and neutralise threats within seconds of detection.

In terms of effective engagement range, DragonFire is currently optimised for short- to medium-range defence, with reliable target destruction out to one to two kilometres under clear atmospheric conditions. Developers are exploring extended-range configurations. However, operational effectiveness can be influenced by weather, turbulence, and atmospheric attenuation. Within its optimal performance envelope, the laser delivers near-instantaneous hits, enabling operators to engage multiple targets in rapid succession without reloading or expending traditional ammunition.

The DragonFire system’s primary targets are unmanned aerial vehicles, including fixed-wing drones and quadcopters used for reconnaissance or swarm attacks. It is also designed to intercept loitering munitions and slow-flying guided projectiles that have appeared in current conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. When deployed on land, the system can neutralise mortar rounds and artillery shells; at sea, it may counter fast inshore attack craft and unmanned surface vehicles, offering a tool for asymmetric threat control in crowded littoral zones. Electronic warfare drones and low-flying manned aircraft also fall within its engagement envelope, subject to detection time. Current iterations cannot yet destroy high-velocity anti-ship missiles. Future upgrades may boost system power and enable deeper integration of radar-directed fire control. This would expand DragonFire’s threat envelope and operational impact for the Royal Navy. MBDA has confirmed the system’s modular scalability, allowing easy component upgrades. Power enhancements will follow as shipboard energy and thermal management improve.d handle excess heat.

The most disruptive feature of DragonFire, however, is its cost-efficiency. Each firing costs approximately £10, roughly €11.60, making it orders of magnitude cheaper than missile-based interceptors such as Sea Viper, which can cost several hundred thousand pounds per launch. This provides warship commanders with a scalable, low-cost solution for persistent defence, especially during long-duration deployments or drone swarm scenarios.

The Type 45 destroyer will launch DragonFire and is among the world’s most advanced air-defence warships. Also called the Daring-class, it measures 152 m and displaces about 8,500 tonnes. It features integrated electric propulsion, SAMPSON multi-function radar, and the Sea Viper missile system. The Type 45 was designed to defend carrier strike groups against air threats. With DragonFire, it gains a powerful non-kinetic threat engagement option, further increasing its versatility in future conflicts.

Initial integration is expected to begin aboard HMS Diamond, which is currently undergoing a major refit in Portsmouth. Prototype installations and sea-based laser trials are anticipated by late 2026. The decision to accelerate deployment ahead of the 2030 timeline reflects growing concern over emerging threats. These especially come from adversaries using massed drone attacks and low-cost unmanned platforms to saturate traditional defences.

The DragonFire programme also represents a significant industrial investment in British sovereign defence capability. Under a £316 million contract awarded earlier this year, MBDA UK and its partners will deliver production-grade systems and support hundreds of skilled jobs. Work will be distributed across sites in Stevenage, Malvern, and Edinburgh. European allies are closely monitoring the programme. Many have yet to progress beyond demonstrator-level laser systems.

With global drone threats escalating and missile defence costs rising, DragonFire’s deployment aboard Royal Navy destroyers signals a new doctrine: energy-based protection. The system is no longer just a futuristic concept. It is now an operational tool, tested in live-fire environments and being installed on one of NATO’s most capable surface combatants.

DragonFire is poised to become a defining feature of 21st-century naval warfare. As energy weapons move from prototype to warship, Britain has taken the lead within Europe. This demonstrates both technological leadership and strategic foresight.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.