MBDA, the prime contractor for the Royal Navy’s DragonFire laser weapon program, has awarded QinetiQ a £67 million ($78 million) contract to continue development of the system’s high-energy laser source. The award advances the UK’s push to operationalize directed-energy weapons for maritime air defense.
The contract follows a major milestone in November 2025, when DragonFire successfully engaged and destroyed fast-moving drone targets during live trials at the MOD Hebrides range in Scotland, operated by QinetiQ. The event marked the UK’s first above-the-horizon laser engagement, demonstrating the system’s ability to counter aerial threats at extended distances.
DragonFire is scheduled for integration aboard Royal Navy warships from 2027, with Type 45 destroyers expected to be among the first platforms equipped. Designed to counter low-cost, high-speed threats, the laser weapon offers a reported cost per shot of around £10, providing a highly economical alternative to missile-based air defense.
The DragonFire program is led by an MBDA-headed consortium, with QinetiQ responsible for laser source development and Leonardo supplying sensors, tracking, and precision targeting systems. Originally projected for mid-2030s deployment, the program’s timeline was accelerated in 2024 as the UK Ministry of Defence responded to rapidly evolving aerial and drone threats, culminating in a £316 million integration contract awarded in late 2025.
