The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has declassified footage showcasing its DragonFire laser weapon.

This advanced technology emits a high-power beam at the speed of light, demonstrating remarkable precision by effectively targeting objects as small as a coin from a distance of one kilometer.

The recently revealed footage captures the laser cannon in action at a Hebrides site, a secluded archipelago off the Scottish coast.

The video features computer-generated imagery (CGI) illustrating the laser weapon’s capability to neutralize military drones—an application considered vital for DragonFire.

Developed by the UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory in collaboration with industry partners like British aerospace firm Leonardo and defence specialists QinetiQ, the laser weapon presents a potentially cost-effective alternative to short-range missiles, which often exceed the expense of their designated targets.

This is particularly relevant in conflicts such as the ongoing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, predominantly utilizing drone warfare, The Next Web reported.

Having been in development since 2017, the construction cost of the laser weapon amounted to approximately £100 million (€117 million).

The prospective timeline for DragonFire includes its potential installation on military vessels within five years, despite facing significant challenges.

Although the concept of cost-effective combat is appealing to military forces globally (with the US and Russia also pursuing laser weapon development), the technology remains in the experimental phase for a crucial reason.

Directed-energy weapons, colloquially known as laser weapons, direct kilowatts of energy toward a target, effectively burning anything in their path, as reported by The Next Web.

While their operational costs are relatively low, the construction expenses are high. A major hurdle yet to be overcome is their limited operability—they can only function in clear skies, with no presence of clouds, rain, or fog.

Nonetheless, given substantial military budgets (such as the US allocating $1 billion annually for laser weapon research and development) and significant scientific expertise, it is probable that lethal laser cannons will eventually become integrated into the arsenals of various armed forces.

Written by B.C. Begley