UK and MBDA announce major anti-drone laser contract

UK and MBDA announce major anti-drone laser contract

The UK on Thursday announced a contract worth GBP 316 million ($414 million) with European arms manufacturer MBDA for the provision of "DragonFire" lasers capable of shooting down high-speed drones.

Unidentified drone flights in recent months have rattled several European countries, which view the incidents as a wake-up call to bolster their defences -- especially as the drones flew over sensitive sites such as military infrastructure, power plants, ports and airports.

The British defence ministry said in a statement it had tested the DragonFire laser at its Hebrides range in northwestern Scotland, involving "drones which can fly up to 650km/h -- twice the top speed of a Formula 1 car".

"The laser system costs just GBP 10 per shot an