Britain unleashes futuristic weapon with limitless ammunition for first time

A futuristic laser – with limitless ammunition – has for the first time been unleashed on British soil.

British Army soldiers from 16 Royal Artillery have carried out the ‘ground-breaking’ test at Radnor Range in central Wales earlier this week.

Mounted on top of a Wolfhound, a protected troop-carrying vehicle, the unnamed weapon destroyed all hovering drones, serving as a warning to Britain’s enemies.

A single blast is capable of zapping targets out of the sky within seconds, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.

The laser works by directing an intense beam of infra-red light in the form of energy towards its target using advanced sensors and tracking systems which maintain lock-on and accuracy in real time. 

Unlike conventional munitions, laser weapons are virtually limitless when it comes to ammunition supply, making them much cheaper.

‘Every engagement we have done has removed a drone from the sky,’ said warrant officer Matthew Anderson, from the British Army’s Mounted Close Combat Trials and Development Group.

‘While we have been testing a variety of distances, speeds and altitudes, one thing has remained – how quick a drone can be taken out. 

‘It is definitely a capability that could be added to the arsenal of weapons that we use on the battlefield.’

Stephen Waller, from the MoD’s Defence Equipment and Support agency, said drones are being used more often in battle – as seen during Russia’s bloodshed of Ukraine.

He confirmed that the lasers would give UK soldiers a ‘better operational advantage’ on the battlefield.

Minister for Defence Procurement Maria Eagle said the technology shows Britain’s commitment to staying at the forefront of military innovation.

She said: ‘The successful testing of this laser weapon system represents a significant step forward in our development of possible future defence capabilities and showcases British engineering excellence.’

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