The full article is available to our Members and registered users. If you are a Member, please sign in to continue reading. If you are not a Member, you can access 1 complimentary article this month by registering for a free account.
Become a Member to access the full range of RINA’s technical publications, articles and professional resources.
Laser shield takes shape
24th Jun 2026
The DragonFire Laser Directed Energy Weapon system (image: MBDA UK Ltd)
The threat landscape facing modern naval forces has changed rapidly. Cheap, mass-produced uncrewed aerial systems, available in vast numbers and increasingly capable of coordinated attack, have exposed the limitations of conventional air defence. Intercepting a drone costing a few hundred pounds with a missile costing tens of thousands is not a sustainable equation. DragonFire is the UK’s answer to that problem.
Developed through an industry partnership led by MBDA with Leonardo UK and QinetiQ, DragonFire is a Laser Directed Energy Weapon system designed as an integral effector within a layered air defence architecture. The system has entered production and is