Star Wars-style laser weapon tested for first time and destroys drone two miles away
A LASER cannon set to unleash Star Wars-style battles has been test fired for the first time.
Britain’s Dragon Fire blasted a drone from over two miles away.
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Pictures acquired by The Sun show the quadcopter erupting in flames.
The laser’s invisible 50kW beam can hit targets the size of a £1 coin that is travelling at the speed of sound. And it could be used to shoot down Russian hypersonic missiles or enemy satellites.
The £100million prototype, which needs no ammunition, had never been fired at full power prior to tests at the MoD’s Porton Down range in Wiltshire last week.
It uses mirrors to focus heat on one point.
Tests went up to 2.1 miles but the laser’s top range is classified.
A source said the gun was placed on a hill and fired downwards into a natural bowl as a safety precaution.
It is expected to be used on warships first as they have sufficient power.
It was built entirely in Britain by scientists at Leonardo, QiniteQ and MBDA.
Ben Maddison, from the Defence Science and Technology Lab, said the tests proved Britain had “world-leading capability”.
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