NEW DELHI: Ukraine is poised to doubtlessly obtain prototypes of the UK’s superior “DragonFire” high-power laser weapon, which has been underneath growth for over seven years and has simply demonstrated its precision in current assessments. This growth comes as Ukraine continues to defend in opposition to the continuing Russian invasion, which started greater than two years in the past.The British Protection Ministry has highlighted the weapon’s outstanding accuracy, able to hitting a £1 coin from roughly one kilometer away.Though the total deployment of DragonFire is scheduled for 2027, there was appreciable strain to expedite this timeline to help Ukraine amidst its present battle.Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko expressed his nation’s eagerness to deploy this know-how on the battlefield, telling Newsweek, “We’re prepared to check DragonFire on the battlefield.” This sentiment displays Ukraine’s pressing want for efficient and cost-efficient protection options in opposition to Russian army techniques, notably drone assaults.British Protection Secretary Grant Shapps conveyed the UK’s intentions to speed up the event and deployment of the DragonFire system. “What I need to do is pace up what would normally be a really prolonged course of, presumably as much as 10 years, right down to a a lot shorter timeframe and get it deployed, doubtlessly on ships and doubtlessly on land,” Shapps stated. He additionally hinted on the superior nature of the know-how, suggesting that it’s “years forward” of comparable developments in different international locations, a Newsweek report stated.The deployment of DragonFire to Ukraine might considerably cut back the prices of aerial protection. The British authorities estimates the price of working the laser to be round £10 (about $12) per firing, starkly lower than the $4 million price per firing of the US-made Patriot interceptor missiles, which Ukraine has been counting on closely.If confirmed efficient, the DragonFire laser might additionally surpass conventional missile programs in combating fast-moving targets because of its means to strike on the pace of sunshine, doubtlessly altering the dynamics of aerial protection in fashionable warfare.Because the UK considers shifting up the deployment timeline, the worldwide group watches carefully. The profitable integration and operation of DragonFire might mark a big shift in protection know-how utilization on the trendy battlefield, providing Ukraine a brand new edge in its ongoing battle with Russia.
