Latest news with #DragonFire
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Yahoo
'Incredible pride': 'Post' talks to IDF laser operator on cutting-edge defense of Israel
The breakthrough of the last week is only the beginning of the changes that operational military lasers will accomplish for the IDF. After the announcement that the IDF's new laser defense system has shot down around 40 Hezbollah drones during the war, along with a Rafael Advanced Defense Systems announcement about its capabilities, IDF St.-Sgt.-Maj. A. told The Jerusalem Post in a recent exclusive interview that his time on the laser team protecting the country with this game-changing cutting-edge system has been 'incredible.' A. is a reservist who was stationed in the North to work on how to operate the laser in real combat situations, and who had spent time in the IDF's air defense units mostly over a decade ago, but returned to assist when the current war broke out. He said that he and everyone else had to learn how to best operate the laser in real time in the field, since it is essentially something that no one has ever done before. 'We received the system, we made adjustments while operating in the field, and we improved, with the [help of the] industry developers [Rafael], after we got a better understanding of what we needed to increase our shoot-down success,' said A. There was a small group that had operated a laser before them, and there were the scientific experts from Rafael whom A. could not praise enough, but there was no real manual or guidebook, as he and his team were writing a new page in history. Trying to develop lasers to shoot down aerial threats goes back to the 1980s in the US with the 'Star Wars' air defense program, but that program was a dismal failure. Although Raytheon in the US, as well as Britain, Russia, China, Germany, and Japan are all at various stages of developing laser defense systems, Rafael said on Wednesday that it is the only company that has moved beyond test firings to actual use in the field. In fact, defense sources said that some of these other countries, after announcing successful tests of their own lasers, have since visited Israel to try to work through problems they are still encountering in moving their lasers to the operational phase. For example, although Britain performed a successful test with its DragonFire laser in January 2024, as of March of this year, the earliest that it was planning on deploying the laser operationally was 2027. Also, in April of this year, Britain announced a successful test of a radio frequency directed energy weapon, but sources have told the Post that this kind of weapon is not only far from deployable, but has a number of weaker factors compared to laser defense. In February of this year, the US Navy reported on a 2024 successful test of its 60 kilowatt High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) system. There are no reports on when it will be deployed. America is also working on the HELSI and HELCAP lasers with 300 kilowatts of firepower, but testing and deploying those systems appear to be even further off into the future. In contrast, we now know that after successful tests in 2022-2023, the IDF has been deploying the laser for real combat use since fall 2024, and that more systems of the laser will be deployed already by the end of this year. All of this means that A. and his team had almost no one to consult or compare notes with. Incidentally, returning to 'Star Wars,' A. was not particularly a fan of the movie saga or science fiction laser gunfights either, before he started to operate Israel's laser defense or after. Basically, he is interested in Israel's defense and nothing else. A. does have a family, and he did need the support of his wife and children to return to an intense and critical reserve duty of operating the laser. 'It was very emotional when you see the enemy rocket and the shoot-down moment gets closer, but then you don't let it get to its target. It's a source of pride that I cannot express,' added A. Moreover, he said that while to date the system was used primarily or exclusively in the North versus Hezbollah, and that he is not making decisions about locations for the system, he is confident that the new laser system could be 'used in the South or anywhere we will be. It will be very effective against threatening targets.' 'If we need to learn the challenges of a new area, we will learn,' he stated – with it being well published that all laser defense systems face challenges in maintaining sufficient heat levels and focus to destroy targets over certain distances, and encountering certain inclement weather, such as clouds. Further, he said that his team and the laser system had learned how to adjust to special maneuvering issues brought out by drones, which change their trajectory, unlike many rockets which follow a predictable arch-like pattern from the moment they are fired. Continuing, A. stated that he could not give enough credit to both his laser defense team, which had to learn how to operate a radical new air defense system with no real history, as well as the Rafael engineers who developed the seemingly 'science fiction' system and adjusted it frequently in real time to meet real life challenges. The number of soldiers involved in laser defense is still classified, but it can be estimated that at least dozens are already involved, and that with its growing success, this number will grow as well. Rafael said that aspects of the laser could even be handled by tiny teams of a few soldiers. 'There is no feeling like saving lives' with a new historic laser defense system, concluded A. One issue that A. did not comment on, but which Rafael revealed on Wednesday, is that its new lasers could eliminate the need for Israelis to run to bomb shelters when faced with most aerial threats. Rafael explained that a major advantage of its lasers – Iron Beam, Iron Beam M, and Lite Beam – is that they can shoot down enemy rockets and drones much earlier in the threat process. This means that, most of the time, no warning sirens or bomb shelters would be necessary. The reason would be that the light energy of the laser travels much faster than any interceptor in Israel's arsenal and would already potentially destroy the enemy aerial threat shortly after it launches, and invariably while still in enemy territory. In fact, because the laser fires so much faster, the IDF will also likely have more chances to hit a target that it initially misses, since it will know it has missed earlier on in the process. That means that Israelis would likely only hear a siren and need to run to bomb shelters in those rare cases where the laser system missed its target, then likely missed it multiple more times. Rafael's presentation of the three different laser systems comes as it expects to display the lasers' capabilities in a defense technology conference in Paris, June 16-22. The fact of Israel's participation in that conference will be significant, independent of the laser issue, though the laser will certainly be one of the lead items at the conference. In June 2024, France initially banned Israeli participation in a similar defense conference, but eventually allowed some Israeli participation after multiple rounds of legal battles in the French courts. In November 2024, France again banned Israel from participation in a naval conference and exercise. However, Israel may for the moment be getting some better cooperation for the upcoming defense conference, after Jerusalem threatened in late 2024-early 2025 to cut France out of involvement in policing the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire if it did not reverse some of its policies upsetting Israel. That said, Israel and France are still at loggerheads over a possible move by France to recognize Palestine as a state in the near future. SOME OTHER details that Rafael just recently revealed are that the Lite Beam is the smallest and most local short-range system of the three laser systems, which can be placed on individual ground forces vehicles and fires a 10 kilowatt beam. Iron Beam M fires a 250 millimeter, 50 kilowatt beam and can be mounted on large trucks for mobility, but cannot be placed as a minor additional system on individual vehicles. Sources also indicated that the Iron Beam M is not only generally mobile, but can even be fired while moving. The full-size Iron Beam fires a 450 millimeter, 100 kilowatt beam, is designed to remain stationary for periods of time, and cannot be fired while moving. However, it can, with advance planning, be moved around, just as Iron Dome batteries, over time, can be moved around. Of course, the breakthrough of the last week is only the beginning of the changes that operational military lasers will accomplish for the IDF. It will take a significant amount of time to adapt lasers for use by Israeli aircraft and especially to use them for both defense and offense. This is because there are many challenges with using lasers relating to turbulence, dust, clouds, and smoke, which are a partial issue even when the end target is up in the sky, but are a larger issue when the starting point is up in the sky. Also, if laser systems firing at enemy aerial threats must consider somewhat additional objects that could get hit by the laser after it continues through the object it hits, those considerations are much more complex for any aircraft firing on ground targets. In fact, due to that and other considerations, the impression was that the IDF has not even made it a priority to achieve such laser aircraft capabilities for the foreseeable future. Yet, sources have explained to the Post that the power and advantage of such a laser on aircraft would be massive: the ability to immediately reverse from defense to offense and vice versa. This is a power that aircraft usually lack when carrying missiles, which are generally tailored more for defensive or offensive purposes. Once the IDF sees more laser defense systems in action at the end of 2025, there could be major budget shifts to start to try a long plan toward integrating lasers on fighter jets. It is unknown what impact such laser developments will have on the question of whether to adapt existing fighter jets or to develop new fighter jets that are more optimal for lasers – with new fighter jet development often easily taking closer to a decade. In addition, it was unclear how quickly Rafael can roll out a larger volume of lasers that would be sufficient to handle a large volume of rockets or drone swarms, such as what Israel saw during the current war. A number of times Israel had to contend with 200-500 rockets or drones in a short period of time. It took years for Iron Dome to reach a volume of batteries sufficient to fight off mass rocket and drone attacks, and this even after the initial defense batteries were produced and deployed. Laser systems are also a big improvement over Iron Dome for reducing the cost of each shoot-down attempt. Each Iron Dome interceptor costs around $40,000, whereas each laser shot should cost around $3. However, developing each laser defense battery is still extremely expensive. Another major advantage of laser systems over Iron Dome, according to Rafael, is reducing the logistical burden. For example, Iron Dome interceptors are not merely a cost, they require significant distinct logistical operations for both storage and movement. Laser defense systems, in contrast, do not require special physical storage space for their 'interceptor,' because laser shots are simply made up of light energy created when the system fires.
The National
03-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Nano-drones and DragonFire lasers: New tech blazes a trail for UK's modernising military
The science fiction of Star Wars is rapidly becoming a reality as laser weapons and attack drones feature heavily in Britain's evolving armed forces. With the ability to shoot down a £1 coin from 1km away, the DragonFire laser could become a major force in defending against missile and drone attacks, after the UK Ministry of Defence announced a £5 billion ($6.75 billion) investment in an array of new systems. Britain has drawn heavily on the lessons of the Ukraine conflict in its Strategic Defence Review, launched on Monday. The revolution in warfare is producing much more automation, essentially letting robots do the heavy lifting in warfare. Sources have disclosed to The National how the British have developed secret weapons, from nano drones and microwave weapons to autonomous submarines, that are all likely to have operated in Ukraine's defence. Breathing DragonFire The DragonFire system will receive nearly £1 billion in funding to install the laser-directed energy weapons on a Type-45 destroyer by 2027 as the UK seeks to become 'the leading edge of innovation'. Modern missile interceptors can cost more than $1 million per weapon, but the DragonFire will just be £10 a shot – while being invisible and silent. Trials have demonstrated that the laser's beams can within five seconds destroy drones or make mortar bombs explode mid-flight. The lasers travel at the speed of light and destroy incoming threats by turning metal surfaces into 3,000°C plasma at a range understood to be beyond 2km. The system, which has been in development for nearly a decade, could become powerful enough to intercept ballistic missiles. The army will also receive a lorry-mounted DragonFire before the end of the decade with prototypes sent to Ukraine earlier to test their effectiveness. While the DragonFire uses up to 100 kilowatts in energy, US warships are looking at a 300-kilowatt system that could be capable of taking down cruise missiles and aircraft, and will come into service in a decade. Lessons from Ukraine The extraordinary developments made by both Ukraine and Russia in drone warfare have changed the nature of warfare. Military tacticians will be studying closely the massed drone assault authorised by Kyiv in which 41 Russian military aircraft were destroyed, causing $7 billion in damage, according to Ukrainian intelligence. In Sunday's raid, lorries filled with suicide drones were driven into Russia, one as far away as Siberia, then parked before their roofs were remotely opened and the aircraft flew to military bases, slipping past Russia's air defences. Nanos, lasers and swarms A range of highly advanced weapon systems, many of them undergoing trials in Ukraine, will be developed at pace with £4 billion in funding, mostly at what will be called the UK Drone Centre. This, the Strategic Defence Review said, will apply battlefield lessons from Ukraine where drones now kill more people than traditional artillery. It is understood that the British army is developing personal laser weapons to take down small drones but is struggling to 'operationalise' them due to the huge amounts of power required. The Banshee Jet 80 kamikaze drone is likely to be upgraded, with a number of models already used in Ukraine, the defence source disclosed. The Banshee can carry a 7kg warhead an estimated 200km using its twin jet engines to travel at 720km/h. Microwave weapons are being developed against drones and have been deployed to Ukraine for testing. Swarm technology is also advancing, with the Magni X system of six aircraft that can operate autonomously to defeat Russian anti-drone systems. They are thought to be capable of carrying a 2kg payload to use against individuals or vehicles. Nano technology will be carefully studied, building on the success of the finger-sized 18g Black Hornet drones. These can carry three cameras and fly for about 25 minutes, sneaking into buildings or military camps. Scientists will use AI and autonomy to develop battlefield transport, getting ammunition and rations to the front line in driverless vehicles. Another system in advanced development is a quadcopter that can lift wounded soldiers out of combat zones. It is also likely to be in use in Ukraine. Sea and air According to the Strategic Defence Review, Britain and its allies will have to compete harder for control of the air, 'fighting in a way not seen for over 30 years', due to advances by adversaries. The RAF is developing the Tempest sixth-generation Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) as its future fighter. It is understood that 216 Squadron is undertaking discrete trials for a system called CCA (collaborative combat aircraft), otherwise known as the 'loyal wingman', in which the mother aircraft operates smaller drone fighters. While the Strategic Defence Review stated that 12 new attack submarines will be built, the development of autonomous boats is already well under way. The Neptune automated submarine is able to carry out covert close reconnaissance and is likely to have been used in the Black Sea to target Russian warships.
North Wales Chronicle
03-06-2025
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
Healey insists defence funding will rise to 3% target to meet review aims
The Strategic Defence Review recommended sweeping changes, including a greater focus on new technology including drones and artificial intelligence based on rising budgets. The Government has committed to increase spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product from April 2027 but only has an 'ambition' to reach 3% during the next parliament, which is due to end by around 2034. The authors of the review have suggested reaching that 3% target is vital to delivering their recommendations while US President Donald Trump has pushed for Nato allies to spend 5%. Mr Healey denied he was gambling on economic growth to meet his target, telling BBC Breakfast: 'I'm 100% confident that we'll hit that 3%. 'The important thing for now is what we can do, and we can do now more than we've been able to do before, because of an extra £5 billion the Chancellor has put in to the defence budget this year and the 2.5% that we will deliver three years earlier than anyone expected. 'It means that a £60 billion budget this year will rise throughout this parliament and beyond.' The Ministry of Defence announced a £5 billion investment in the 'kit of the future' following the publication of the review on Monday. The funding includes £4 billion for drones and autonomous systems, and an extra £1 billion for lasers to protect British ships and soldiers. A new era of threat requires a new era for defence. The Strategic Defence Review marks a landmark shift in our deterrence and defence ⬇️ — Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) June 2, 2025 Mr Healey said the investment would provide 'the most significant advance in UK defence technology in decades' and 'ensure our armed forces have the cutting-edge capabilities they need to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world'. Part of the investment will see the establishment of a new 'drone centre' to accelerate the deployment of the technology by all three branches of the armed forces. The focus on drones comes as the technology has proved increasingly lethal on the battlefield in Ukraine, where it now kills more people than traditional artillery. At a meeting of allied defence ministers in April, Mr Healey said the UK estimated drones were inflicting 70-80% of battlefield casualties, while on Sunday Ukraine launched a major attack on Russian airfields deep behind the front line using a fleet of small drones. In addition to investment in drones and AI, the Government has announced an additional £1 billion for the development of 'directed energy weapons' (DEWs) during the current parliament. This includes the DragonFire laser scheduled to be fitted to the Royal Navy's Type 45 destroyers from 2027, with a similar system provided for the Army by the end of the decade. DragonFire and other DEWs are intended to provide a lower-cost form of air defence against targets including drones, costing just £10 per shot compared with the thousands of pounds it costs to fire existing weapons.
Leader Live
03-06-2025
- Business
- Leader Live
Healey insists defence funding will rise to 3% target to meet review aims
The Strategic Defence Review recommended sweeping changes, including a greater focus on new technology including drones and artificial intelligence based on rising budgets. The Government has committed to increase spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product from April 2027 but only has an 'ambition' to reach 3% during the next parliament, which is due to end by around 2034. The authors of the review have suggested reaching that 3% target is vital to delivering their recommendations while US President Donald Trump has pushed for Nato allies to spend 5%. Mr Healey denied he was gambling on economic growth to meet his target, telling BBC Breakfast: 'I'm 100% confident that we'll hit that 3%. 'The important thing for now is what we can do, and we can do now more than we've been able to do before, because of an extra £5 billion the Chancellor has put in to the defence budget this year and the 2.5% that we will deliver three years earlier than anyone expected. 'It means that a £60 billion budget this year will rise throughout this parliament and beyond.' The Ministry of Defence announced a £5 billion investment in the 'kit of the future' following the publication of the review on Monday. The funding includes £4 billion for drones and autonomous systems, and an extra £1 billion for lasers to protect British ships and soldiers. A new era of threat requires a new era for defence. The Strategic Defence Review marks a landmark shift in our deterrence and defence ⬇️ — Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) June 2, 2025 Mr Healey said the investment would provide 'the most significant advance in UK defence technology in decades' and 'ensure our armed forces have the cutting-edge capabilities they need to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world'. Part of the investment will see the establishment of a new 'drone centre' to accelerate the deployment of the technology by all three branches of the armed forces. The focus on drones comes as the technology has proved increasingly lethal on the battlefield in Ukraine, where it now kills more people than traditional artillery. At a meeting of allied defence ministers in April, Mr Healey said the UK estimated drones were inflicting 70-80% of battlefield casualties, while on Sunday Ukraine launched a major attack on Russian airfields deep behind the front line using a fleet of small drones. In addition to investment in drones and AI, the Government has announced an additional £1 billion for the development of 'directed energy weapons' (DEWs) during the current parliament. This includes the DragonFire laser scheduled to be fitted to the Royal Navy's Type 45 destroyers from 2027, with a similar system provided for the Army by the end of the decade. DragonFire and other DEWs are intended to provide a lower-cost form of air defence against targets including drones, costing just £10 per shot compared with the thousands of pounds it costs to fire existing weapons.
South Wales Guardian
03-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Healey insists defence funding will rise to 3% target to meet review aims
The Strategic Defence Review recommended sweeping changes, including a greater focus on new technology including drones and artificial intelligence based on rising budgets. The Government has committed to increase spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product from April 2027 but only has an 'ambition' to reach 3% during the next parliament, which is due to end by around 2034. The authors of the review have suggested reaching that 3% target is vital to delivering their recommendations while US President Donald Trump has pushed for Nato allies to spend 5%. Mr Healey denied he was gambling on economic growth to meet his target, telling BBC Breakfast: 'I'm 100% confident that we'll hit that 3%. 'The important thing for now is what we can do, and we can do now more than we've been able to do before, because of an extra £5 billion the Chancellor has put in to the defence budget this year and the 2.5% that we will deliver three years earlier than anyone expected. 'It means that a £60 billion budget this year will rise throughout this parliament and beyond.' The Ministry of Defence announced a £5 billion investment in the 'kit of the future' following the publication of the review on Monday. The funding includes £4 billion for drones and autonomous systems, and an extra £1 billion for lasers to protect British ships and soldiers. A new era of threat requires a new era for defence. The Strategic Defence Review marks a landmark shift in our deterrence and defence ⬇️ — Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) June 2, 2025 Mr Healey said the investment would provide 'the most significant advance in UK defence technology in decades' and 'ensure our armed forces have the cutting-edge capabilities they need to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world'. Part of the investment will see the establishment of a new 'drone centre' to accelerate the deployment of the technology by all three branches of the armed forces. The focus on drones comes as the technology has proved increasingly lethal on the battlefield in Ukraine, where it now kills more people than traditional artillery. At a meeting of allied defence ministers in April, Mr Healey said the UK estimated drones were inflicting 70-80% of battlefield casualties, while on Sunday Ukraine launched a major attack on Russian airfields deep behind the front line using a fleet of small drones. In addition to investment in drones and AI, the Government has announced an additional £1 billion for the development of 'directed energy weapons' (DEWs) during the current parliament. This includes the DragonFire laser scheduled to be fitted to the Royal Navy's Type 45 destroyers from 2027, with a similar system provided for the Army by the end of the decade. DragonFire and other DEWs are intended to provide a lower-cost form of air defence against targets including drones, costing just £10 per shot compared with the thousands of pounds it costs to fire existing weapons.
