The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyers are being considered as the most suitable platform for the DragonFire laser weapon system, with four ships expected to be fitted with the directed energy weapon from 2027.
The confirmation came in response to written parliamentary questions from James Cartlidge MP, who sought clarity on which Royal Navy vessels will receive the laser system announced in the 2025 Spring Statement.
“Our DragonFire Laser Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) will be fitted to four Royal Navy ships starting from 2027,” said Minister of State for Defence Maria Eagle. “Type 45 destroyers are being explored as the most suitable platform.”
While it was already publicly confirmed that four ships will be equipped with the capability by 2027, this is the first formal indication that the Type 45 class is the leading candidate for integration.
The Ministry is continuing to mature its plans for directed energy weapons, with further details to be determined through the upcoming Strategic Defence Review and Spending Review. Eagle noted that the laser programme forms part of a broader push to field novel technologies at pace.
“Defence remains committed to bringing novel capabilities to our Armed Forces faster than before, and our Defence Reform efforts will help to set MOD up to deliver this,” she added.
DragonFire — developed by a UK consortium comprising MBDA, Leonardo and QinetiQ — has already demonstrated its ability to strike and destroy aerial targets with precision. The system offers a low-cost-per-shot solution ideal for defeating drones and other fast-moving threats.
The Type 45 destroyer, with its advanced sensors and spacious topside architecture, has long been considered a logical candidate for trialling and operationally deploying directed energy systems.
Not the Carriers then??
Why only 4 T45?
Biggest impact in shortest time. Easier and cheaper to dock a Type 45 and then operationally a 45 is probably the most likely asset to deploy on an op where a drone threat needed countering and your unlikely to deploy a carrier without a T45 escort.
I would guess long term plan is dragonfires being deployed universally like CIWS.
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I’d still put this on the carriers as they are the biggest target for layered threats.
Eventually yes. But this is a new system that the RN and government want to get to sea. Docking a carrier is a big deal so if you decided that it is unlikely they would get to sea much before the end of the decade. I would also hazard that the carriers would mount at least two of these so two ships swallow up potentially all the units currently in production whereas thus plan puts it more quickly on four ships.
Almost certainly will once it has been tested on T45.
Main issue is to have the risk capital available to start the process of providing high power cabling etc to multiple locations and say that is OK even if Dragon Fire isn’t a success.
This is the issue here – money is so tight there isn’t money to risk on starting the preparations ball rolling.
Carriers NEVER deploy without a number of other ships to protect it. Carriers are mobile airports basically.
I never served on one but did serve on type 23 frigates that were sometimes part of the escort group for the ark royal aircraft carrier.
It HAS to be on HMS Dragon. Please, please, please, come on. You’re on the verge of greatness. You’re *this* close.
Anyway, aside from that – is anyone else worried that these aren’t going to get any kind of robust combat proving due to risk aversion? It’s the same problem when people were criticising USN usage of SM-series missiles in the red sea instead of RAM/CIWS – those lower tier systems should be *absolutely* fine against drones and cruise missiles, but skippers will (understandably) never want to willingly not engage incoming targets and let them get closer to sinking their ship just so they can use the cheaper self-defence weapons – if the new tech doesn’t work then most missiles will be seconds away from leaving a hole in your hull, and even a glacial shahed will close a (hypothetical) 2km range in under a minute.
You’re exactly right. Why leave it to chance when you can safely desperate of the target long before it reaches you or your escortee
Dispense
I think the aircraft carrier should be fitted first as they will be the prime target for hostile forces 🤔