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Wednesday, Apr 08, 2026

Britain to Accelerate Drone Defense: Lasers on Warships from 2027 for Just £10 a Shot

Britain's Ministry of Defence (MOD) announced that they will install laser technology on warships to shoot down drones as early as 2027, five years ahead of schedule.
The DragonFire lasers, which use an intense beam of light to destroy targets, will cost approximately 10 pounds ($12.52) per shot and have the accuracy of hitting a pound coin from a kilometer away.

Previously, the rollout of this technology was predicted for 2032.

This cost-effective and long-term solution for countering drones is part of the MOD's efforts to speed up the deployment of new technology in response to a more dangerous world.

The UK Defense Secretary, Grant Shapps, announced the acquisition of a new laser technology named DragonFire.

This laser is designed to target and neutralize drones, which have become a common threat in modern warfare due to their low cost and ability to damage expensive military equipment.

The use of traditional methods to shoot down drones can be costly, with each Sea Viper missile costing over 1 million pounds.

The DragonFire laser is a more cost-effective solution, and the UK government aims to quickly deploy it to its armed forces.
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