Scott Nicholas
Britain-based industrial team UK Dragonfire will conduct the Laser Directed Energy Weapons Capability Demonstrator under a potential $39.2 million deal with the U.K.’s ministry of defense.
MBDA said Friday the group will look to mature the country’s high energy laser weapon systems capacity as well as technologies for a high energy defensive laser weapon system that can engage with targets in land and maritime environments by 2019.
Dave Armstrong, MBDA executive group technical director and U.K. managing director, said UK Dragonfire will work to help the country take advantage of joint efforts between the government and industry participants in the weapons environment.
MBDA noted the proposal aims to build on investments between government and industry members in areas of laser coherent beam combining, weapons systems, C2, pointing systems and storage.
UK Dragonfire is a consortium of MBDA, Qinetiq and Leonardo-Finmeccanica that collaborates to provide the country with industry intelligence that will help accomplish the program through partners such as GKN, Arke, BAE Systems and Marshall ADG.
