The United Kingdom has conducted successful tests of new directed energy weapons designed to neutralize aerial drones, the Ministry of Defence announced on April 17.
The trial involved two systems: a high-powered laser weapon called DragonFire and a radio frequency (RF) system capable of disabling drones by disrupting their electronics. Both were tested at military ranges in Scotland and Wiltshire.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the DragonFire laser successfully hit several aerial targets with precision. The RF system was tested against various drone types and reportedly neutralized them by jamming their control systems.
The tests are part of the UK’s £100 million investment into advanced air defence technologies. The government stated that the weapons are being developed for deployment with the British Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force.
The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) and several UK-based defense firms are involved in the project. Further testing is expected later this year.
