The UK defense ministry is bringing in a deal from 30 million pounds with UK Dragonfire, a British industrial consortium led by MBDA, to lead the demonstrator of the potential of laser weapons (Directed Energy Weapons - DEW).
UK Dragonfire will realize, through the Laser Directed Energy Weapons Capability Demonstrator, a significant leap forward in the UK's ability to deliver Direct Energy and High Power Systems and will outline the foundation for future operational benefits.
The program will develop key technologies for a defensive laser weapon system e, in 2019, will show the hiring of targets on land and at sea. The results will also provide the premises for future procurement decisions.
UK Dragonfire is a consortium led by MBDA with QinetiQ and Leonardo-Finmeccanica, which brought together the best of the British experience in the sector. The "team" also capitalizes on the strengths of other individual companies involved such as GKN, Arke, BAE Systems and Marshall ADG.
The proposed UK Dragonfire follows the remarkable UK investment in the field of combining laser beams, direct energy weapons control and command systems, advanced aiming and power conservation systems.
