The first combat tests of laser weapons took place in Great Britain

 The first combat tests of high-power laser weapons against an air target were carried out in Great Britain. It turns out that the shelling will pave the way to creating a cheap alternative to air defense missiles for destroying targets such as military drones.

During tests in the Hebrides, the DragonFire laser system destroyed incoming drones from a distance of several miles, which experts said was a milestone for the British army, reports The Times. The tests took place at a training ground in Scotland, and the British Ministry of Defense took an "important step" towards putting the technology into use. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said the technology could reduce "dependency on expensive munitions and also reduce the risk of collateral damage".

According to British defense officials, the DragonFire laser weapon is accurate enough to hit a British pound coin from a kilometer away. The diameter of this coin is only 23 mm.

It has also been reported that both the British Army and Navy are considering the use of laser weapons in their advanced air defense systems. Please note that the UK will not be the first country to use lasers as a weapon, as the US Navy has already installed Lockheed Martin laser air defense systems on several ships.

It should be remembered that the main means of air defense currently are missiles. Moreover, the ammunition used in such systems can be much more expensive than the drones they destroy. Some of these rockets cost millions of dollars, while a drone may cost just a few thousand.

According to the UK Ministry of Defense, a ten-second firing of the DragonFire system costs the same as using a conventional home heater for an hour. It also noted that the cost of operating the system typically does not exceed 10 British pounds ($12.7) per shot.

The laser weapon, officially called a laser-guided energy weapon (LDEW), uses a powerful beam of light to hit a target and can strike at literally the speed of light.

The range of the DragonFire system is classified, but it is a line-of-sight weapon, meaning it can engage any visible target within range. The system is being developed by the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) with industrial partners on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence.

DSTL chief executive Dr Paul Hollinshead said: “With these tests, we have made a huge step forward in realizing the potential and understanding the threats posed by directed energy weapons.”

It was also noted that the DragonFire weapon system is the result of a joint investment of the British Ministry of Defense and industry in the amount of £100 million.