Footage of the UK's DragonFire laser weaponry system has been declassified. The weapon is seen destroying airborne drones and mortar shells. DragonFire is intended to be a technology demonstrator for a larger future project. | Interesting Engineering

The UK has successfully tested its new DragonFire high-energy laser weapon, shooting down a high-speed drone during live-fire trials. Following the test, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that the Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyers will begin receiving DragonFire systems starting in 2027. DragonFire delivers precision air-defense at a fraction of the cost — each laser shot costs around £10 (about $12–14), compared to hundreds of thousands for traditional missiles. If sea trials match its test-range