DragonFire laser: MoD tests weapon as low-cost alternative to missiles

[Nik_SpeakerToCats]

DragonFire laser: MoD tests weapon as low-cost alternative to missiles

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68031257

quote:
The UK has successfully fired a high-power laser weapon against an aerial target for the first time in a trial.

It is hoped that the test will pave the way for a low-cost alternative to missiles to shoot down targets like drones.

The DragonFire weapon is precise enough to hit a £1 coin from a kilometre away, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) says.

It described the test, at its Hebrides Range in Scotland, as a "major step" in bringing the technology into service.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said the technology could reduce "the reliance on expensive ammunition, while also lowering the risk of collateral damage".
...
The MoD says firing the DragonFire system for 10 seconds is the cost equivalent of using a regular heater for an hour, with the cost of operating it typically less than £10 per shot.
/

Does this mean it can fire for long enough to 'walk' onto targets ?? Like eg a chain-gun ? That some-what resolves issues of temperature inversions etc that thwarted some of the US' 'pulsed' designs...

[Pdf27]

Does this mean it can fire for long enough to 'walk' onto targets ?? Like eg a chain-gun ? That some-what resolves issues of temperature inversions etc that thwarted some of the US' 'pulsed' designs...

Umm.. remember the speed of light? There's no benefit to walking in shots with this type of weapon.

[Calder]

Does this mean it can fire for long enough to 'walk' onto targets ?? Like eg a chain-gun ? That some-what resolves issues of temperature inversions etc that thwarted some of the US' 'pulsed' designs...

Umm.. remember the speed of light? There's no benefit to walking in shots with this type of weapon.

[shrug], I think it is likely that Pdf27 is referring to 'walk' in the sense that you could take out multiple targets or move along the surface of the drone to help reduce the effects of thermal blooming rather than using 'walk' to improve accuracy.

I think that is highly unlikely that the military can yet make a laser that can do enough damage that the spot can be moved before thermal blooming takes place. That would take a laser several orders of magnitude stronger. No numbers are in the article but it is extremely likely that the laser needs to be kept on the same coin-sized spot on the target for 0.5-multiple seconds before the target is destroyed and thus still affected by blooming.